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Acres of Ashes 



THE STORY OF THE GREAT 
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, 
FIRE, MAY 3, 1901 ^^^^^ 



BENJAMIIs^ HARRISON 



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P r i c e 25 Cents 



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05 "^ Copyrighted 1901 

BT JjMi^S a. HOLLOMAN, PUBLISHER. 
i^All rights reserz'ed.) 






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PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE BURNT DIS- 
TRICT OF JACKSONVILLE, AS SEEN FROM 
AN ELEVATION. 



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ACRES OF ASHES 



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THE STORY OF THE GREAT FIRE THAT SWEPT 

OVER THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, 

ON THE AFTERNOON OF FRIDAY. MAY 3, 

1901, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF 

SEVEN LIVES, DESTROYING OF 

$i5,cx)o,ooo IN PROPERTY. 

TOTAL INSURANCE 

LESS THAN 

$5,000,000 



By BENJAMIN HARRISON 



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Published by James A« HoUoman^ 

?Jight Editor of the Florida Times-Union and Citizen, 

^▲OKfiOKYIXLB, PLA. 






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Jacksostillk, Fla. : 

EAST FLORIDA PRINTING COMPANY. 

1901. 



IMPRIMIS- 



The fuller relation of the history of the Jacksonville fire 
is a duty our city owes to itself as well as to those who visited 
her in want. It is fitthtg tJiat the details of the picture be 
filled in lest some fail to realize the depths out of which a cry 
for help was forced from our lips — it is required that toe 
render an accounting by showing that good use was made of 
the supplies heaped in overflowing measure in answer to that 
call. This little book seeks but to do this — it but tells how 
the loss befell us, how bitter was our need, how generous was 
the response from the whole people and how fully the wishes 
of the donors were made a law to those clothed with the re- 
sponsibility of the distribution. 

If this purpose is served it is well— less we could not do. 

J. E, T. Bowden, 

Mayor of /acksonville. 



INTRODUCTION 



It is proper that a record of the Jacksonville 
fire be given a form more accessible than that of 
the newspaper and more enduring than the ruins it 
left in its path. The chronicle of such suffering 
and the generosity that reHeved it, the fortitude 
that endured and the means by which the social 
obligations were preserved in the midst of a dis- 
organized mass of human beings, should furnish a 
lesson to the living as well as a moral to the his- 
torian — such conditions may prevail again and the 
study of an experience will not be wasted. The 
soldier who was a part of the battle is rarely the 
man to describe it, and it may be that we who 
passed through the Moloch of the old Jackson- 
ville to the glories of the new should leave to oth- 
ers the discussion of the relation our trials bear to 
the passing problem of municipal American life, 
yet it may be pleaded in excuse that the chronicle 
is ever the primary form of history and the bud 
must precede the flower. 

Upon these bare facts may be built the de- 



ACRES OF ASHES, 

veloped truth vital to the comprehension of a com- 
plex national life. Here we see a great people 
forming a family so close that one unit of it is not 
allowed to want till hunger pinches all. In Jack- 
sonville ten thousand people went supperless and 
homeless for one night, but they took breakfast 
together, a state waited upon their dinner table 
and a continent furnished the supper and the bed 
before another sun sank to rest. The memory of 
the need and the relief will never pass from the 
memory of Floridians and we hope it will be for- 
ever sweet to those who gave. 

Francis P. Fleming. 



^be ©tori? of tbe SacfeaonvlUe 3fire. 



upon the State of Florida the morning of Fri- 
day, May 3, dawned to show every promise of hope 
and prosperity. Down the long peninsula crawled 
trains that labored with the weight of tourists re- 
turning to the north and west after a winter which 
had filled every hotel in the land to overflowing 
and gladdened the hearts of the landlords. The 
golf links and the tennis grounds were deserted 
and some of the great hotels were closed for the 
season, but many lingered before returning in 
view of the late frosts and all felt reluctant to turn 
their backs on a time and place of so much enjoy- 
ment. In orange grove and pineapple plantation, 
on truck farm and tobacco field, laborers appeared 
and the work of the day began. 

In the valley of the St. Johns a light mist hov- 
ered and through this a steamer of the Clyde Line 
pushed its way and its smoke added yet another 
element of darkness to the local obscurity. Then 
the sun rose, the mist dissolved into a silver radi- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

ance and swept upward — a brilliant sun shone 
down and all nature basked in the light that be- 
tokened a summer's day at its best. 

In Jacksonville the mist hung while life began 
after the sleep of a peaceful night, but labor 
scarcely appeared on the streets before the heat 
rays were unpleasantly felt — horses fell into the 
slow pace that was to endure till the noon and the 
drivers began to wipe their perspiring foreheads. 
The day had begun in earnest and breadwinning 
demands its devotees. Shutters began to fall and 
then the doors of business houses were opened. 
The pedestrians became other than those who hur- 
ried to work and at the markets the housewives 
appeared and the telephones rang continuously. 
Soon smoke from steaming kitchens hung over the 
residences, there were calls from dooryards to 
dooryards and the new roses were seen and ad- 
mired. Breakfast was eaten and then work pos- 
sessed the city from end to end. At the street 
corners men lingered for a moment to discuss the 
news of the morning paper and the hospitality the 
President was receiving in the South seemed the 
topic of greatest interest. 

So peaceful and assured dawned the day for a 
city that was to be blotted out of existence within 
a few hours! so assured is the American in the 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

present and future secured by his laws and con- 
trolled by himself. Hotter shone the sun. At the 
offices of the Times-Union and Citizen the city 
editor gave out his assignments and reporters la- 
mented the dearth of any topics of sensational or 
absorbing interest. The story with the least r^p- 
pearance of public interest was accepted as a God's 
send; one prominent citizen when asked said, 
'There is no news," and was told, "You must keep 
something going or how can we make a readable 
paper after Aguinaldo subsides." 

During this time a fibre factory on the extreme 
northwestward limit of the city proper had roused 
itself and its material filled a large yard, one side 
of which fronted Madison street, extending a 
whole block except as the building occupied the 
northeastern corner. In this yard fibre from the 
vats was spread to dry and some was already dry. 
From the platform rose a steam under the influ- 
ence of the sun's rays. At noon the workmen in 
the building went out into the yard and sat in the 
open air to eat dinner. On the west stood some 
negro cabins and there, also, dinners were being 
prepared. Now these cabins possessed chimneys 
of wonderful design but all defective in much — it 
was a common thing for sparks to fly from them 
and a watch over the fibre was always necessary 



ACRES OF ASSES. 

when the wind was high and swept towards the 
east. Now the wind was so light no danger was 
feared, though the direction was right, and the 
watchman sat with the factory hands to dinner. 
There was a Httle scurry of wind and smoke rose 
from the wide platform. One grumbled, rose, took 
a bucket of water and extinguished the fire. But 
in doing so he noticed that little blazes glowed in 
the mass of fibre and he called for help. The 
workmen went to his assistance and bucket after 
bucket of water was poured on — to no purpose. 
While this was being done the first breath of the 
coming wind swept over the yard, the fragments 
caught and fire ran along the ground with the 
speed of powder flashes. Into the building itself 
these followed the debris — here they found fresh 
material on the floor and in racks — the great room 
was immediately a mass of flames and the alarm of 
fire was sent in to notify the department of the dan- 
ger that menaced Cleveland's Fibre Factory. The 
engines came on the run, the firemen were at work 
before the horses stopped and streams were poured 
upon the flames. 

But the drought had been prolonged, the build- 
ing was of pitch pine with a roof of shingles com- 
bustible as tinder — water evaporated or seemed 
but fuel to the flames. With a roar the roof fell 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

in and then was added a feature for which all- ex- 
perience had left us unprepared. Excited by the 
heat the wind had risen and swept in fitful gusts 
over the city — from the glowing depths of the un- 
roofed factory masses of flaming moss rose high 
and were carried over the city in every direction 
by eddies or far to the east by the breeze. They 
fell on the shingle roofs surrounding the fire limit, 
in backyards, and they drifted through open win- 
dows and against curtains that dallied in the wind. 
Chief Haney had sent in the general alarm to the 
fire department and all his force was with him or 
coming. He had stood foremost against the heat 
and flame and he still poured a river on the fac- 
tory ; he turned from his work and dashed his eyes 
clear with his hand to find a city on fire behind 
him. The alarm had been sent in at 12 :35 — it was 
not yet i, but smoke and flame rose on three sides 
of him and he stood on an island. Hastily he di- 
vided his men and machines — he sent one detach- 
ment straight to the east in front of the fire — an- 
other to the westward to guard the residences and 
business blocks in that direction. He went to the 
front as the post of danger and worked there with 
despair already at his heart. 

But Hansontown was now a furnace — a suburb 
of pine shanties to the northwestward of the city — 



ACRES OF A8HES. 

with the wind behind. High overhead swept 
blazing shingles and the air was thick with flames 
—as the roofs of Hansontown fell in, beds rose 
bodily and carried their material far ahead — the 
firemen stood under a roof of flame, and the con- 
flagration swept over them beyond the reach of 
their engines. It was i o'clock. 

A thick pall of smoke covered half the city ; as 
far as Bridge street a river of flame swept up from 
the west and north — the firemen stopped there 
and fought grimly but despairingly. Then the 
fiery shower fell again behind them — the resi- 
dences on Cedar street flushed into flame on their 
roofs, and, at last, wagons began to remove house- 
hold effects systematically. Yet not even now 
was the situation appreciated — from blazing 
houses goods were removed and carried two or 
three blocks to be left while the wagons and drays 
hurried back to help others. The heat was terri- 
ble — brick walls crumbled — pictures taken from 
the rooms ignited on the sidewalks and these 
caught bedding and books. Women wailed and 
children screamed — far ahead of the conflagration 
roofs caught and appeals for help came in when 
every fireman was at his appointed post. 

The streets were filled with the shrieks of wo- 
men and of men who strove to comfort or guard 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

them from the effects of their frenzy — through the 
crowds hurrying horses raced and blazing heaps 
that were lately valuables drew about them mourn- 
ful groups. Leaping over the noble residences of 
Messrs. Porter and Ware, embowered in trees, the 
fiery shower descended upon a little house at the 
corner of Laura and Church — that flushed into 
flame as does the sky at the touch of dawn. About 
this were some of the finest residences in the city, 
those of Senator Taliaferro, of Vice-President Par- 
rott of the East Coast Railroad and Messrs. Ware 
and Porter on the opposite corners. Down upon 
these with the fire in front rushed the army of 
flames from the rear and little was saved because 
the heat in the streets was so unbearable. A de- 
voted stableman attempted to save Mr. Parrott's 
fine team and the horses were in an agony of fright 
— they reared and plunged but ever they were 
guided out and their struggles carried them far- 
ther from danger till they were given their heads 
and ran faster than even the racing flames. 

On West Duval street the flames made a chim- 
ney of the thoroughfare and rushed in wrath to 
conquer and devour — on the north side they out- 
sped their rivals on the other so that after the in- 
tersection of Cedar there was some hope of saving 
the south side. Encouraged by even this glimpse 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

of hope to ward off destruction from Bay street 
the firemen made an exhaustive effort and poured 
rivers upon the block west of the Windsor Hotel. 
But far to the west the flames had also charged 
along Monroe street, and as the firemen fought 
on Duval Dr. Dean's residence on Monroe sent a 
volcano of heat charged with lightning to mock 
their efforts. Before this walls fell and great oak 
trees blackened — a death trap was being set in 
front of them and they rushed out barely in time, 
leaving their hose on Julia street. 

From Julia to Madison was now an ocean of 
flames that seemed to envelop the heavens — north 
and south they stretched from Monroe to the edge 
of the city — half a mile wide and half a mile deep. 
But the appetite of the conflagration was still un- 
satisfied — it saw the hotel quarter in front and it 
gathered new strength for the fresh food. Along 
Church the fire had already crossed Julia, now it 
made the line solid and the army followed the 
skirmishers to attack the Windsor which occupied 
a solid block on the Duval side and the same front 
on Hogan. But wooden structures occupied one 
corner of the block and these blazed up without a 
pause. Into the hotel many had carried the goods 
saved hitherto, ftirniture and books had been piled 
in the halls— it was crowded with guests. Now 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

on the certainty of danger the scene was fearful — 
a mass of humanity struggled and surged into the 
street and parted like the waves of the sea as each 
followed his own judgment. Terror that was de- 
spair with many now drove the crowd — it had been 
followed relentlessly, it had been chased from, pil- 
lar to post — was there no end to this calamity ? 

Then the great Windsor and St. James were 
blazing and soon became furnaces; they radiated 
heat far and wide, the flame of their burning as- 
cended to heaven and they groaned with thunder- 
ous voices in their agony. To this dread partner- 
ship the opera house now joined itself — the poor 
plants in Hemming Park withered and twisted 
themselves into ashes and the cement that joined 
the Confederate soldier to the marble shaft blazed 
redly through the smoke. Around the pedestal 
of the figure some had piled family pictures an 
hour ago — others hoped something might be 
safe in the center of this block with its splashing 
fountain that then looked so green, and the ac- 
cumulation grew to include bedding and books. 
Perhaps the fierce heat was enough — perhaps a 
spark flew> but all now blazed and passed into 
ashes in a breath except a few family portraits 
which still showed the ghastly likeness of their 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

former selves in the gray light of Saturday morn- 
ing. 

Now the flames were racing on with a width of 
half a mile from Hogan's creek to Forsyth within 
two blocks of Bay. Just at this time the spectacle 
was appalling to the stoutest heart. In front and 
around the flaming district men and women wan- 
dered seeking the lost — wildly excited but always 
peaceable and helpful. Some had sent the ladies 
of their families into Springfield, but now became 
possessed with uneasiness as to their fate, for it 
seemed impossible to restrain the fire within the 
limits of Hogan's creek — families in Springfield 
were loading their effects on wagons and the wild- 
est rumors were afloat as to occurrences on the 
other side. 

An attempt to make this trip under these cir- 
cumstances led to the discovery of a remarkable 
fact — the combustibles floating in the air were fir- 
ing buildings several hundred yards in front of the 
conflagration. While the St. James was still burn- 
ing it was impossible to head off the flames to 
cross into Springfield except by passing Laura, 
Main, Ocean and Newiian streets, while on Market 
buildings were falling and blazes flashing from 
many houses yet beyond. However, it was still 
possible by rushing under the fire and smoke, and 



ACRES OF A8HE8. , 

along this perilous way a steady stream of passen- 
gers went with all manner of burdens from feather 
beds and mirrors to children. 

Along this dolorous line ladies struggled in 
thin slippers and dainty dresses with their cooks 
and the refuse of the city, but the rough were ten- 
der now and the strong supported the weak. Ex- 
hausted, one would drop a burden and another 
would take it in turn for a rod — one would take a 
child from its mother's arms and proceed until a 
wave in this sea of humanity would force the two 
apart — then the mother's voice of fear would add 
a new terror to the scene. 

Arrived at the Market street bridge over Ho- 
gan's creek, the jam of humanity made the pas- 
sage like that of swimming against the tide — now 
you won a foot and then two were lost. Into this 
mass passed the whisper that the gas works on 
the bank just above must explode soon and the 
struggle became more fierce, but at its fiercest, a 
woman fell, and there was a general pause till she 
could be pulled from under foot. Perhaps this 
incident saved lives, for the force was already 
straining the balusters of the bridge and only these 
kept the crowd out of the water. 

Within ten minutes after this struggle was over 
the fire had surged down on the shanties lining the 
2 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

southern shore and a return was impossible — the 
creek was still the northern fire limit. In Spring- 
field reports had spread that the fire had already- 
crossed, but those who now came refuted this and 
some confidence began to be felt. 

Meantime in the center of the march Liberty 
street had now been crossed and the flames were 
hottest as they attacked the public buildings and 
the armory. The latter had the reputation of be- 
ing fireproof, it was a most imposing building, 
reared as a place of strength. Here the people 
of the neighborhood with their valuables hurried 
and these were piled to the ceiling in the guard 
room and other apartments. The skirmishers of 
the coming army recoiled before its strength and 
devoted themselves to the work of heating it from 
the surrounding buildings. This they accom- 
plished so thoroughly that when the grand attack 
came it crumbled like an egg shell, its walls went 
down together, and here would have been the 
climax of the day in great loss of life had not the 
previous heat driven out all the refugees. But 
tons and tons of valuables were changed into ashes 
in a breath. 

The county court house had been built in the 
old style and its brick walls were known to be 
solid and thick; here seemed another castle of 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

refuge and to it the people flocked with their 
goods. The clerk of the circuit court knew his 
safes were worthless under such a trial as this 
would prove and he consulted with other officials 
who agreed with him that the only chance of sav- 
ing his papers was to take them into the court 
house. This was done and all waited the result. 
Down came the flames and licked up the one- 
story buildings opposite that the clerk had occu- 
pied — they struck the court house, but could not 
break the line. Then the Law building on the 
other corner became a flaming volcano and it 
radiated heat against the walls of the court house 
as a regiment shoots its volleys. The red bricks 
changed to pale, then they glowed so fiercely the 
eye could not rest upon them — but they stood. 
The roof crushed in, but the walls stood — the Law 
building fell, but the walls of the stout court house 
would not yield and the enemy retired discomfit- 
ed. Yet dearly was the defiance made good — 
everything within was calcined as would be the 
contents of a metal tube thrown in the fire — of the 
county building only the walls remain, while the 
records are but dust and ashes. 

Yet onward swept the fire. It had now broad- 
ened its sweep to the river and brushed the edge 
of the stream. Boats were hurried out, steamers 



ACRES OF ASHE8. 

puffed away in fear and those along the river be- 
gan to flock into South Jacksonville, thinking the 
river the only defence against the fire. Along the 
bank were foundries and brick buildings — these 
were levelled. Back were the handsome resi- 
dences built by many wealthy citizens with that 
of S. B. Hubbard overlooking the river. These 
were attacked from front and rear at the same 
moment and crumbled down like houses of cards. 
Behind them, were blocks of wooden buildings — all 
were borne down to the edge of the marsh. 

Across Hogan's creek here as it bends to 
meet the river were mills with piles of 
lumber — let these be reached and Fairfield 
must share the fate of Jacksonville. No 
engines were avaible, but a bucket bri- 
gade responded nobly to the call and the flames 
were crushed out as soon as they caught — they 
never gained a foothold. Here the might}^ rush 
of the conflagration was stayed — the marsh with 
its width of green grass, the creek and brave buck- 
ets bore down the weary monster and beat him 
to helplessness at last — Fairfield, the mills and the 
railroad were saved. But the fl.ames recoiled and 
went back on its tracks from the Mohawk building 
and the United States Hotel — along the river 
these were all massive brick structures. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

Night had come and since 12:30 the fire had 
swept through the most thickly populated part of 
the city, destroying every house but four on an 
area of six hundred acres — these being the Thomp- 
son Novelty Works, a shanty along the line of the 
Valdosta road and two houses, one a store and 
one a dwelling, where Adams crosses Hogan. 

And, as darkness fell what horrors were added 
to the scene! From_ the top of the great tower at 
the waterw^orks in Springfield only the white gov- 
ernment building lifted itself unscathed on the 
southern boundary of the onward rush, though the 
recoil after dark drew the line along the river 
closer and closer. Above hovered a pall of inky 
blackness; below spectral flames hovered and Ht 
up the dread spectacle from the ground as the 
flames beneath the stage in Faust vainly strive to 
give us an idea of the infernal regions. In mid 
air the network of wires stretched like skeletons 
upheld by the blazing arms which were dropping 
a fiery rain — the gaunt chimneys reared them- 
selves like memorial stones. 

It is 6 o'clock and from the tower a man is 
seen to cross Hogan's creek on the Laura street 
bridge and enter the burned district. He is one 
whose duties call him to Bay street and he will 
cross if the task be possible — he carries his bicycle 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

that return may be swift in case of need, but the 
street is so encumbered that he will put the wheel 
to the ground only as a last resort. His anxious 
wife waits on the bridge because she cannot rest 
at home, knowing the task before him. His gait 
is at first swift and confident, but we see him place 
his handkerchief over his face. The smoke de- 
scends and and hides him, but he emerges and 
proceeds. But the heat increases — he does not 
halt, but he peers anxiously before him — the way 
grows worse instead of better. He reaches the 
summit of the first hill on Laura street which was 
once shaded even from the rays of the nooday sun 
by the royal oaks lining the street — now flames 
quiver all over the pavement and the bricks glow 
with fervent heat — he turns back for mortal 
strength and nerves may not endure that path. He 
does not reach the bridge a moment too soon — he 
reels and is almost overcome bv the heat and 

» • 

smoke. His wife receives him and they pass back 
by Hammatt's woodyard, to which the flames have 
leaped across the creek. 

Scenes Among: the Homeless* 

Now this fire from Hammatt's yard lights up 
a scene strange beyond description. Here ^s a 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

non-descript population along the banks of the 
creek that does not need the pencil of Dore to 
lend a weird light that never shone before on land 
or sea. The softest cheek ever nourished by Cau- 
casian blood seems yellow and drawn under the 
firelight — the blackest African flushes into saffron 
and the eyes emit a gleam that seems borrowed 
from the cat's eye or the angry panther's. Up to 
the tower from this aggregation of humanity floats 
a murmur which never becomes articulate — some- 
times it has the hard tone of remonstrance with 
heaven for the cruelty of the visitation — some- 
times many join in the crooning of a camp-meeting 
hymn; often there is the shriek of a mother sep- 
arated from a child in the terror of the time and 
her agony must find vent. 

But at 7 the street had cooled and it seemed 
possible to pass through the burned district from 
Hogan's creek to Bay street, though this was still 
no pleasant trip. Even the bridge was crowded 
with those who had fled from the fire — they were 
now putting up all sorts and descriptions of cover- 
ings to shield the babies and the old or sick from 
the dews of the night. Then came a few yards 
of deep sand upon which the fire could take no 
hold ; after this there was only the hot street under 
foot and the heaps of ashes on each hand. There 



ACRES OF A8HE8. 

was a tangle of wire on the pavement — a cloud of 
intermingled and intertwisted wires overhead, and 
these were all hot. Occasionally, even with the 
best of care, one of these would catch around the 
ankle, and then a leap would precipitate the pe- 
destrian into worse trouble — a keen eye and a 
cool nerve was needed for such a walk. 

The day before Laura was one of the finest 
residence streets in the city, embowered in the 
shade of oaks that made coolness at noontide in 
the center of the highway ; on either hand the fine 
homes of the McQuaids, the Prides, of Alderman 
Smith, the two Sable brothers, the Fairhead resi- 
dence, that of Mr. Furchgott, the Dalton board- 
ing house, the S3magogue and the St. James Hotel 
at the intersection of Duval. Around was desola- 
tion indeed — a dull glow shone from the ashes — 
flames burned fitfully on the poles overhead sup- 
porting the wires that remained suspended and 
the lonely chimneys everywhere. In the park the 
palmetto froncTs drooped despondently and smaller 
plants merely marked the earth with brown heaps ; 
the great trees in front of the St. James held up 
their stumps to the sky and shone as blackened 
skeletons only. 

From this elevation the view ran unobstructed 
to Bay, for to the east the houses had been swept 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

away. On the river bank the lire still raged, beat- 
ing back against the wind and fighting for its life. 
The engines were stationed in front of the Astor 
block and the fire was raging against the walls of 
the Western Union building — the Commercial 
Bank was a hopeless wreck. Its stout walls stood 
and gave the enemy pause, here the firemen won 
the final battle — no further could the enemy come 
and he died at Laura street. But there was still 
danger and the streams were poured upon the 
ruins during the whole night, while the crowds 

waited and watched. 

It seemed the people of Jacksonville could 

not realize the measure of the calamity that had 
fallen upon them — men seemed stupefied except 
when driven into action by the loss of a friend or 
relative. Ten thousand people were homeless — 
1,700 houses had been consumed — an area of 455 
acres in the heart of the city was desolate — except 
for four little structures it was a clean sweep two 
miles long and nearly a mile broad. Meantime 
appeals had gone to the Governor and at his order 
the State troops had sprung to arms and were 
hurrying to the city as fast as the trains could 
bring them. Captain Davis of the Gem City 
Guards received his telegraphic orders at 2 a. m., 
at 4 he had his company mustered at the station — 



ACRES OF ASHES, 

in the early dawn he reported in Jacksonville and 
went upon duty immediately. 

In the offices of the Times-Union and Citizen 
every man was called upon- to cover the field and 
the reporters rushed hither and thither as sensation 
after sensation developed. There was no power 
for the typesetting machines and the old hand 
cases were brought out from their dusty corners 
and set to work. Press telegrams had been sent 
out and in response particulars were demanded 
from every quarter. But how could these orders 
be filled when the offices of the Western Union 
was the limit of the district saved? Flames beat 
upon its outer walls and the crowds blocked its 
doors — the despatchers were obliged to suspend 
work with piles of messages unsent and the coun- 
try had only the baldest news, so that the press 
did not understand the full measure of the calam- 
ity. 

The Coming: of Nigfht. 

But what a night was that! 

From Bridge to Laura a thin fringe of twelve 
blocks, three deep, stood upon the river bank, but 
northward, eastward and westward of Hemming's 
Park stretched desolation unbroken save by three 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

small houses on the east; around this swept up 
the suburban towns like oases in a desert. Nearly 
in the center of this stood the Confederate soldier 
high on his marble column, facing a scene, still 
undismayed, such as confronted his prototype in 
the long ago. The waves of death had rushed up 
to his feet and had Hcked into ashes the costly 
piles left for him to guard, when the great hotels 
on either sides were blazing their fiercest, his pe- 
destal glowed with fervent heat, but still he stood 
nor changed his attitude, though the stone quiv- 
ered and flames flashed out of the cemented base. 
There the early morning found him, on guard 
where he was placed, true to duty and unchanged 
in aught save that the smoke of battle shrouded 
his form and the smell of conflict was on his gar- 
ments. Yea, there he shall stand while heroism 
and patriotism endure, beloved alike of friend and 
those who once were foes. Hail to thee, O, sol- 
dier! Thy city shall rise again and the pledge of 
its resurrection is seen in the beam of morning 
now crowning thy imperishable front. But all the 
field now smoking under the eye of that bronze 
soldier was lately thronged with a seething mass 
of humanity in horrible conflict with the unchained 
forces of the elemental world — a struggle to which 
only the pen of Hugo could render justice. But, 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

to the eternal credit of the people of Jacksonville 
be it remembered, that through it all the brute 
passions of the human never broke loose; under 
every temptation there was courtesy to the fe- 
male, consideration for the weak and tenderness 
from the strong. Man was opposed to the dread 
conflict that beset him in the Stone Age — com- 
forting fire had been transmogrified into the vol- 
canic immensities of destruction that were then 
transforming the old world to its present like- 
ness, but man scorned to surrender his heritage 
of the ages and refused to degrade himself though 
he perished on the altar of his devotion — and the 
time was again when the martyr became the con- 
queror. 

Without fear of contradiction the statement 
has been made that no negro forfeited the trust 
reposed in him when valuable goods were given 
to his care by those too excited to notice the num- 
ber of his vehicle even ; he often showed bad judg- 
ment, for who could dream the fire would run so 
far? But there was no looting — no stores ac- 
cumulated by robbers have been found in the sur- 
rounding country — no evidence of cruelty or ex- 
tortion has risen from the ashes of that dread af- 
ternoon and night to haunt with distrust and sus- 
picion the future of our people. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

A number of men were trying to save some- 
thing from a house that reeled under the shock 
of the flames and one staggered against another 
and was drawn into the air. Leaning on the sup- 
porting shoulder, the fainting man looked up into 
the face, both smoke-begrimed and almost un- 
recognizable — utter strangers to each other. But 
the smile of recognition caught the eyes red with 
smoke and the drawn Hps said, "I helped you at 
your house." ''Were you the stranger?" said the 
other; ''tell me your name." "To hell with your 
thanks," replied the one with a ghastly attempt 
at laughter, "this is no time for foolishness !" And 
the two turned again to their work. Never spoke 
a tenderer heart with a rougher voice — the reply 
was entirely typical. The recording angel that 
blotted out Uncle Toby's oath took the feeling 
for the words and never heard the imprecation 
save as a blessing. Among all the varied mean- 
ings into which the words of the president's En- 
glish have been twisted it is still true that silence 
best bespeaks the American heart. 

On Cedar street a citizen in caring for wife and 
children had been nearly caught in the rush of 
flame before he could send away a dray with a 
few clothes. Returning into the building he made 
'a little bundle of most important articles and 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

Sprang away without a coat. Two blocks off he 
overtook a weak old couple pushing a sewing ma- 
chine which rolled haltingly on a sidewalk already 
growing hot. ''Madam," said he, ''you must leave 
this and save your lives; the fire is upon you." 
"How can I, sir?" sobbed the old mother; "this 
machine is the only support of my poor husband." 
Without a word the gentleman threw away his 
papers, raised the machine to his shoulder and 
staggered off with the infirm couple close at his 
heels, nor did he halt till he saw the three on 
board a steamer in the river. The ancients cele- 
brated the piety of Aeneas who brought his father 
on his shoulders from burning Troy. The Amer- 
ican owed no duty here save that of humanity and 
brotherhood. Often and often on that day of 
horror was the stranger taken in hand by the good 
Samaritan — never was he more nobly entreated 
than was this aged couple. 

From a flaming house bedding and furniture 
and books were taken by willing hands for an old 
lady who promised a wagon would come. Time 
went by and no wagon appeared; the bedding 
caught fire, and one said to her, "Madam, you 
cannot stay here and we must go now." But she 
threw herself on the blazing pile and shrieked it 
was all she had now, and she wished to go with 



ACRES OF ASSES. 

it. They took her away by main strength. Is it 
not wonderful that suicides were not numerous? 
The fire brushed the human insects off the face 
of the city and they settled in the vacant lots and 
under the trees of the surrounding territory, with 
the creeks for their protection. Here the 
families were camped, with no attempt 
at separation into groups; friends were twenty 
feet away and mourned for each other during all 
those terrible hours. Some had piled furniture 
so as to support bedding, or rugs, for canopy, and 
so made an excuse for a tent and the show of 
privacy. In many cases a few trunks became a 
little house that delighted a baby; from other lit- 
tle shelters issued the moans of the aged or feeble 
or sick. But there was sympathy of the sweetest 
and dearest; some had brought a frying pan, an- 
other a coffee pot; there was a little money for 
food brought from the stores around. One wo- 
man had left her purse and all the belongings of a 
comfortable home, but she had carried eight eggs 
in a little basket for hours. All these w^ere shared 
— a man would bring a few sticks and over this 
dishes would be improvised for the children; all 
shared what was the common stock, though none 
knew w^hether they would find breakfast. A dolor- 
ous gathering, to which the flame of burning 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

homes gave light and from which the smoke shut 
out the sight of heaven. 

Up and down the creek, catching a voice from 
each vacant lot, sweet now and then the deep tones 
of a camp meeting hymn, broken occasionally by 
the shrill wailing of a negress for a lost child! 
Then a storm of sobs would follow, muffled from 
the Caucasian by the habit of self-repression, loud 
and deep or piercing with savage notes from the 
African. ''Bress de Lawd, dis am de day of judg- 
ment!" shouted a religious enthusiast. ''Have 
mercy on us, O God !" sobbed the voice of an 
educated woman whose face was bowed and hair 
hung free in the abandonment of grief. ''Hush, 
honey," comforted an old mammy. "De Lord 
will care for his own, an' I feels like I did when we 
all camped 'round Micanopy in de s'render, and 
I was a young gal dat had lots o' fun. Don't you 
trouble, honey, it will all come right." 

Later, as it became evident that the suburbs 
were safe, those who had houses penetrated these 
groups. "Come with me," said a lady to a friend 
just found, "my house is safe." "Have you room?" 
asked the unfortunate. "I have a crowd," smiled 
the friend, "many of whom are strangers to me, 
but surely I can make a place for you, though I 
give you my bed and I sleep under it." Such was 



The Florida Times-Union ^Citizen. 



VOL. XXXVI-36TH YEAR. 



JACKSONVILLE SATURDAY, MAY 4, lOOl 



PRICE FIVE CENTS. 



JACKSONVILLE DEVASTATED BY A 

MOST DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION 



Rre Raged Without Abatement from 12:i0 p. m. 

8-30 p. m— Thousands of People Are Left 

Homeless— Loss Roughly Estimated 

at About SU. 000,000,00. 



There Is Suffering in Jacksonville! 

There Must Be Immediate Assistance 



Wot Less llian One Hundred- and Thirty Blocks i 

Residence and Business Sections of tlie Cily 

Ddst roved— Municipal Bodies and 

Let Those Who Are Able Respondl ^"'"^ "' T"* to Med. 




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Till' iilwvo Is u iihotogmphic roproduftioii of tlio first piine of the Tinu's-Uiiion »utl Citizen the morning iifter the llrt*. Without clectrh- 
without ipis uud with serious Interferences with power, ilie piiper was on the streets within ten hours after tliu Are was under control 
suiil sUe, nnd the fire story hnndletl iu every tietiiil. The entire p»p4'r was set l>y hand composition. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

the spirit which animated our people. All the 
dreadful night tramped through these dreadful 
scenes individuals and parties who looked for 
friends and mourned because they w^ere not to be 
found. Perhaps only the darkness hid them from 
each other — both might be seeking, but all the 
unknown was terrible. 

The Market Street Horror* 

About 3 o'clock Friday afternoon the 
man in charge of a little launch saw it in danger 
and pushed out into the stream. On the dock at 
the foot of Market street stood a crowd and a lady 
asked if the boat took passengers. ''No," replied 
the man, but he checked her speed to see if he 
could do anything; hearing no further calls and all 
seeming safe with an open street behind them for 
escape, he passed on. To these was probably 
added about this hour a number who had taken 
refuge in the Mohawk block. But now the Mo- 
hawk block caught as the flames swept back in 
an eddy from their onward march; the Meyer & 
Muller warehouse, the shop of McMurray & Bak- 
er and the building of the Florida Yacht Club. 
This closed the circle around the hapless company 
and retreat became impossible except by the river. 
3 



ACRES OF ASHE8. 

One of them, Alfred Ball, of the Springfield su- 
burb, secured a sailboat, into which entered fif- 
teen hapless survivors of the company. Some 
were hcked off the wharf by the devouring flames ; 
others in their haste fell into the water and 
drowned, screaming under the more merciful ele- 
ment. Attempts to push ofT the sailboat proved 
unavailing, because the winds swept in to meet the 
fire and drew the boat back at each efifort. 

At this moment passed Arthur Cummer, of 
the Cummer Lumber Company, in his yacht Edith, 
having been to the Gardiner building on Bay street 
to save important papers and now returning to 
the mill. He heard the screams and ran in as near 
as he dared and shouted. The despairing survi- 
vors in the sailboat heard, and young Coxetter, of 
St. Augustine, swam out to the yacht, secured a 
line and nobly went back with it. The line was 
secured, the word given, and the yacht got under 
way to tow out the sailboat. With the strain the 
boat began to move — then down swept a smother 
of smoke and flame, from out of which rose agon- 
izing shrieks and despairing groans. The tow 
rope parted (whether broken from the hasty fas- 
tening or burned, who shall say?), the Edith dart- 
ed out under the impulse of her headw^ay, and 
before she could be checked the sailboat had been 



ACRES OF A8HE8. 

drawn back into the flame and into contact with 
the blazing timbers of the dock ; in a moment she 
was a thing" of the past. 

The Edith came round and swept back as near 
as she dared go to the head of the dock; from 
that fearful fate she found several swimmers float- 
ing out and picked them up; of the rest another 
hour must tell when the bodies are recovered. 
For the Edith now sees the steam.er Irene in dan- 
ger and from her are calls for help. Formed by 
the strong currents of air rushing to supply the 
vacuum left by the rush of the heated smother, a 
waterspout gathered and added another horror to 
the scene. A cloud descended and touched the 
whirling water with a giant finger; the water rose 
thirty feet to meet it, and in the center of the fear- 
ful hourglass it was about two feet in diameter. 
This monster swept up the river, seething and 
whirling its tons of v\^ater, directly tow^ards the 
Irene. Seeing no more swimmers, the Edith dart- 
ed to the help of the Irene. But the waterspout 
was too swift; it caught the Irene in its clutch, 
capsized her as a child would a cork, and passed 
on with dreadful noises before the river front of 
the city. Was there an element of terror wanting 
to this dreadful time? 

This was about 5 p. m. of Friday, May 3. 



ACRES OF ASHE8. 

Circling around the fire zone on the north and 
confining it, Hogan's creek then bends towards 
the river and forms also its eastern boundary. But 
as the brief and ghastly twilight darkened into the 
horrible night the creek again became a line of 
battle. Near its mouth a broad marsh separates 
it from the city. Near the marsh the houses are 
small cabins, but built of inflammable material, 
now dry as powder. While these burned the heat 
swept over the grass and it flamed. Was the fire 
to cross the creek at this point and so sweep the 
railroad and destroy the mills? Here w^ere no ap- 
pliances to fight the fire. Men and boys formed 
a line with buckets and passed up from the creek, 
running to put out each blaze as it caught and 
held as if instinct with malice. For two hours 
this continued. The horrible heat poured down 
from the burning city and the acrid smoke lacer- 
ated the skin. Hands and faces were blistered, 
but no one flinched. It was naked man against 
the element and many times the issue was doubt- 
ful. If one staggered beaten away another took 
his place and many passed the buckets, each in 
his place, but ready for another with that Ameri- 
can thoughtfulness which the foreigners who 
watched the fighting in Cuba called "The Quality 
of Initiative." The name is not American — ^the 



ACRES OF ASHE 8. 

thing itself is an inheritance from those pioneer 
days when each man took many parts and filled 
them all so well as to earn a continent. 

In the end the fire was beaten, the defence of 
marsh and creeks, with the stm-dy line behind was 
too much — together they proved invincible. Then 
the bafiled terror was stopped in his onward 
march, and, curling back upon his track, marched 
to new destruction along the river bank. Then 
occurred the charge on the foundry, the Mohawk 
block and the United States Hotel, which culmi- 
nated in the massacre at the Market street dock — 
now the people along the river met their deaths. 
High soared the flames from those lofty buildings, 
and it seemed the heat and flames deserted the 
rest of the field to concentrate their fury here. 
From this hour the terrified watchers in Spring- 
field regained hope; in Fairfield they rejoiced over 
a victory hardly earned and men began to talk of 
the possibility of crossing back to Bay street within 
a short time. 

For many who had gone to the suburbs to put 
loved ones or property in a place of safety had 
been unable to return. Duty now called for them 
to render yet other service, if possible, to business 
interests. At 6 an employee of the East Coast Rail- 
way made the attempt along Laura street and 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

nearly lost his life. An hour after this the first 
crossed through the central line of the burned 
district, and soon there was a steady stream of 
anxious pedestrians passing with careful steps over 
the hot wires and the glowing bricks with the 
darting flames on either hand. 

Strange to say, in this inferno there yet was 
life. A low moan attracted attention and a shudder 
ran through the hearer. Was it possible that any- 
thing human could withstand such heat and live ! 
Dreading what he expected to see, he stepped 
carefully through and over the tangle of wires to 
the twisted and grotesque shape of what had been 
an iron fence before a yard filled with shrubbery. 
There was no sound and he called. Then came 
back another low moan — it was under the scorched 
ruins of what had been an evergreen tree or thick 
shrub near an erection of shells about a fountain. 
He called again and with piteous lament crawled 
forth a horrible shape that was still a cat; its fur 
was gone and the baked skin cracked as it moved, 
but it crawled toward a human voice. Its feet 
Avere gone and it walked on stumps that dripped 
as a joint does in the oven; the flesh of the face 
had fallen away and the eyes, unseeing, were white 
and glazed like porcelain; the teeth stood out as 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

from a skeleton. Should such a horror be suf- 
fered to live? Who should kill it? 

The government building flash2d white in the 
spectral flames ; the Confederate soldier stood firm 
in his immortal watch over the land he fought to 
save, but other signs of man and his works had 
been swept away or transformed into new shapes. 
Was this the St. James Hotel that was but six 
hours before crowded with merry guests contem- 
plating their homeward trip ? They had fled, and 
it had fallen. Where was the Park Opera House 
where so lately Jefferson played old Rip to ap- 
plauding thousands? Its heap of ruins was in- 
distinguishable from those that covered the ground 
for acres and acres. 

Down on the river the engines throbbed and 
the exhausted firemen spent their remaining 
strength in the fight with their backs to the West- 
ern Union offices. The Commercial Bank in 
ruins was the last victim of a fury that seemed 
insatiable. Here the struggle was kept up through 
the night; soldiers stood guard like umpires of 
the lists, and Chief Haney's heroes, in defeat as 
in victory, were worthy of their leader. Occa- 
sionally the w'eary engines paused as if to take 
breath, for the foe had been beaten to the ground, 
but at each cessation of the stream he struggled 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

up and renewed the fight. So it continued till a 
fearful dawn replaced the dreadful night, and it 
was Saturday at last. 

In the great Astor block on the corner of Bay 
and Hogan the staff of the Times-Union and Citi- 
zen kept up its supervision of the war. Reporters 
rushed panting in with accounts of the progress 
of the battle and rushed hurrying back. No ap- 
prehension was felt; then safety was assured, for 
the government building on the second block to 
the north had turned the tide and stood as a 
strong cHff against the ocean surf. But when the 
march was turned and assault after assault proved 
successful in the rear, records were packed, books 
sent west and every preparation made for a hasty 
flight. At 7 o'clock the office was a wreck and 
the weary relics of the force onl}^ waited the word 
to go. 

Then word came that the defence on the line 
of Laura held good ; then that all was won save at 
the Western Union building, and there was hope. 
That hope was justified and enough men collected 
to begin the work of getting out the paper. What 
a task that was ! All during the afternoon calls 
for copy had come from papers all over the coun- 
try, but the Associated Press was first served; 
then the office refused to take messages and those 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

prepared were held till the fight was decided. Al- 
ready the whole continent throbbed eager for 
news. In every city of the land Jacksonville, the 
gateway of Florida travel, was known, and in 
thousands of them were men and women who had 
friends among us. Naturally all tourists were sus- 
pected of being in Jacksonville on the road home. 
This demand grew more urgent when the stand 
of the defenders was made good, but the first 
duty of a newspaper man is to his own paper. 

How could that paper appear on time to take 
the mournful tidings through the mails? Power 
was dead; the Mergenthalers were useless. The 
old cases were hastily brought out from dusty 
corners and printers began again the old work that 
had grown unfamiliar. Light had failed; there 
was neither gas nor electricity. But somewhere 
in that city of dreadful night a box of candles was 
unearthed and men wrote and set type and filled 
the chases with nerves strained to the utmost — 
some with aching hearts for loved ones whose 
whereabouts were unknown — some who dreaded 
the worst from scanty information gained hours 
ago. All remembered the worst extremity that 
comes under certain conditions and weapons were 
at hand in case violence attacked the defenceless, 
and the brave soldier boys and police needed aid. 



ACRES OF A8HES. 

It was a fearful time when the ears were burdened 
with awful sounds, but the crack of a rifle might 
have precipitated a massacre. 

As the night wore on into morning and every 
observer confirmed the exemplary conduct of all 
classes and conditions of men, relief was possible 
and he whose work was done sank to sleep on the 
floor in a stupor — if he could. For some there 
was no such mercy vouchsafed, and for these work 
was merciful, because it gave distraction to more 
torturing anxiety. 

Day broke and sorrowing crowds inspected 
the ruins and talked in low murmurs. Ten thou- 
sand people were homeless and business impossi- 
ble. 

The soldier who participates in a battle never 
sees one — his vision is limited. The immediate 
prospect fills his eye and absorbs his senses — the 
historian comes after the soldier has done his part. 
How did the fire destroy the city of Jacksonville? 

March of the Flames, 

When the roof of the fibre factory fell in and 
masses of the burning moss swept through the air 
in every direction, the flames rushed up Beaver 
street like a charge of cavalry; they leaped hun- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

dreds of yards at a bound ; they plunged and tore 
over the roofs, and. Beaver was ablaze to Liberty 
in thirty minutes. 

Other masses swept westward across Ashley 
and Church and Duval and Monroe within the 
same time. Soon they had touched Adams and 
threatened Forsyth. 

Afterwards it was a steady march across the 
heart of the city with ever accumulating heat and 
gathering force in the rush. Henceforward, as 
Chief Joyner, of Atlanta, said, ''No human power 
could have saved the city. All the fire apparatus 
of New York and Chicago combined would not 
have stayed the fire here." This was as true as 
soon as the line of march had been formed, as at 
the Gardiner building, of which the visiting chief 
spoke. Chief Haney did all that mere man might. 
It was impossible for man to stand in front of it. 
The hose burned in the hands of the nozzlemen 
while the water rushed through it. 

Men would shoulder a trunk and start down 
the street with it. Before going a block the flames 
would overtake them and they would drop the 
weight and run for dear life wdth the blaze licking 
their heels. 

Ladies left home and were hurried away by 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

anxious friends, but the fire would catch their 
dresses and urge them on with' pitiless lashing. 

There were thousands of narrow escapes. Sick 
people were brought to places of supposed safety 
time after time, only to find death at their heels, 
and yet another removal necessary. 

When the churches caught frenzied negroes 
yelled, "De Lawd is angry wid us, O, people! 
prepare to die!" and some would break away and 
rush towards the flames, only to be caught and 
dragged away by main strength, foaming and 
fighting. 

Wagons were piled high with trunks and fur- 
niture and bedding thrown over these. The fire 
caught the bedding, and a mad horse with a crazy 
driver and flaming wagon would rush madly 
through the streets. 

Wagons carried their loads to a distance and 
returned for other burdens. Sparks fell in the 
abandoned piles and flames leaped high in the air, 
darting in open windows and flying high in the 
driving wind. So the fire was carried over the 
city. 

After the fire reached Julia street the local 
military was called, out and dynamite used in the 
vain atempt to remove all food from the path of 
the terror. The thunders did but add new ter- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

rors and drive the ignorant and nervous to greater 
acts of unreason. 

Trinity Methodist Episcopal church was 
ablaze before the opera house caught. From these 
two furnaces the work of the two great hotels was 
completed. There was no more hope, for fire was 

everywhere. 

Hundreds joined in the attempt to save the 
Baldwin building, now owned by the Elks; it col- 
lapsed, and the paint shops shot into lurid flashes. 
The Hubbard block, with its stores of explosives, 
scattered even the firemen, for the bullets from 
the cartridges rained out in every direction. The 
new Furchgott building gave its great stock of 
dry goods to the flames; Cohen's followed, and 
the tons of paper in the Drew building made a 
fire as hot as coal. 

The proud city building, that was to prove a 
monument to its projectors, went down; the 
headquarters of the fire department, and then the 
armory, whose castled front had promised to with- 
stand a longer siege. Down East Duval the fire 
seemed to rush on eagle's pinions to the Catholic 
church and orphanage and the St. John's Episco- 
pal church. Within four hours the city was gone 
and acres of ashes had taken its place. 

In Raleigh, N. C, the flames of the burning 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

were seen and men turned to each other on the 
porches after supper and said, "A city is burning 
in the South." In Savannah the smoke of the 
earlier afternoon was supposed to indicate a com- 
ing storm and inquiries were made of the weather 
ofEce. 

Seventeen hundred buildings were burned — 
one hundred and forty-eight blocks. The fire- 
swept over a tract two miles long from west to east 
and over half a mile broad. The property de- 
stroyed is put by careful estimates at twelve mil- 
lion dollars, insured for about five millions. Ten 
thousand people were homeless at sunset and 
many possessed only the clothes in which they 
faced the world to make a new beginning of life 
and labor. Without money or work or prospect 
of either they were hungry without the means to 
secure food at breakfast next morning — delicate 
womicn, tender children and strong men. power- 
less to feed their own. What, then, was the con- 
dition of the aged, the feeble and the helpless? 
All seemed alike doomed to death or misery. 

But, before they fell, the wires had borne no- 
tice of the dread calamity over a continent filled 
with Americans — with people whose hearts are 
tender, but whose strong hands have wrenched 
wealth and the power wealth gives from the stub- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

born earth. When the wires in the city fell those 
at the Union Station still throbbed with the bur- 
den of the disaster and men heard from San Fran- 
cisco to Maine. 

To hear was to feel; to feel with Americans 
is to act. 

Down the long line of the east coast throbbed 
the wire and throbbed back the contribution of 
Henry M. Flagler, who has taken Florida and her 
people to his heart. Over the wide plains it 
caught the president in his flying capitol and 
brought his condolence; on to Washington, and 
the secretaries of the national government wired 
back their readiness to place the resources of the 
nation at the service of the stricken city, so far as 
the law would permit. With the morning Florida 
knew to her farthest hamlet and thrilled to the 
bond of blood. Palatka sent her help on a passing 
train, and Jasper shouted "Take what we have 
and welcome." The Governor asked how he could 
serve the people and sat at his desk to direct. 
Pensacola heard and obeyed her heart as always. 
The word dived under the waves and came back 
laden with the tenderness of Key West for her 
sister. The American people had heard and Jack- 
sonville should not starve or struggle naked 
against her foe. There was a voice of lamenta- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

tion throughout the land as of Jacob for a beloved 
child, but America is not old that she should sit 
still and weep. "New York is the first city of the 
country/' said one of her papers, ''and she must 
be first and strongest to~ help." ''Why should 
Chicago be second ?" spoke the giant West. "Bal- 
timore is the city of the South." came booming 
from the Chesapeake, "and she cares for her own." 
"Nay, Florida is not poor or helpless when her 
children sufifer," cried all the Flowery Land. 

It was Saturday morning in Jacksonville. 

Where shall a people be fed? The homes were 
in ashes, the hotels were no more. As the sun 
rose the hungry were fed till the ready money that 
happened to linger in the pockets of a family din- 
ing at home had been exhausted ; most of this the 
ladies kept, though many of them left the family 
pocketbook to feed the fire. Still, in front of 
every restaurant and eating place on Bay street 
and in the suburbs long lines of the hungry pressed 
forward. Outside the line were many unused to 
privation, whose looks showed they were penni- 
less. When the hour passed few gentlemen had a 
penny and many had been fed, but there were 
many also who still hungered. In the suburbs the 
kitchen fires glowed till provisions had been ex- 
hausted. The stocks in the retail stores that sur- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

vived were dealt carefully out to give each a little 
as in a siege. Still some were hungry. 

Wagons were sent to the wholesale houses, 
and it was pitiful to see that many had no thought 
of cooking food except on a stove and with ap- 
proved implements. What would a hunter like 
better than a roast from the same ashes over which 
so much mourning was made ? 

The question of breakfast solved, what re- 
mained? Life was to be faced and what others 
were doing became of concern. Copies of the 
morning paper were secured, and groups gath- 
ered to hear this read; a consensus of opinion was 
thus gained and some attempt to realize the whole 
was made. But the reading also told that help 
was coming from every quarter; that meetings 
were to be held to organize the situation and the 
soldiers were already on the ground. Here was 
comfort — perhaps here was safety for the present 
and prospect of recovery for the future. Then 
those hapless outcasts gave a sign of relief — many 
sought the nearest water and began to clear the 
grime of the night from face and hands — some 
were, indeed, unrecognizable. 

At 10:15 a. m. there was a meeting of mem- 
bers of the municipal bodies in the telegraph of- 
fice of the Times-Union and Citizen, over which 
4 



ACRES OF AS HE 8. 

the mayor presided. Mr. Floyd moved that im- 
mediate measures be taken to afford practical re- 
lief, and Mr. Turner proposed that the various 
municipal bodies be designated to take charge of 
donations and directed to supervise their distribu- 
tion, Harry Mason immediately gave his check 
for $250, and the city treasurer was made treas- 
urer of the fund. Thus the work began. St. Au- 
gustine and Palatka and Volusia county offered 
assistance, and Jasper, through Senator Frank 
Adams, sent $500. Military headquarters were es- 
tablished on the vacant lot next to the govern- 
ment building and Jacksonville turned herself 
with one heart to the work in hand. Several offers 
of help from the outside were already in hand. 
But the wildest rumors stirred the crowds that 
collected about the streets, exchanged reports and 
dissolved to form again with fresh constituents. 
But it was found that the prisoners had been 
marched safely by the sheriff into Riverside and 
afterwards sent to the jails of adjoining counties. 
Dr. Dean had been burned badly, but he and all 
his family were otherwise safe. Judge Dzialynski 
had crawled under a burning building and got 
away, not being cremated, as reported. The chil- 
dren at the orphanage had been taken across the 
river, and Sister Mary Ann had cared for her own. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

Gradually confidence was recovered, and from a 
readiness to believe that everybody was dead, the 
crowd was elated by the conviction that there had 
been no loss of life. 

Then came the finding and identification of the 
body of a negro woman in front of her home at 
the corner of State and Ocean streets. She had 
fallen with her head away from the fire and her 
lower extremities were burned to a crisp — a hor- 
rible sight that brought a swift realization of what 
might com.e. The witnesses of her death were 
found who testified thai she had said she did not 
desire to live after her home had burned, that 
she struggled away from friends who tried to de- 
tain her and rushed frantically into the flames. 
Evidently she had fallen from the heat before 
reaching the building. 

The survivors from the Market street death- 
trap had named some of those involved and a sys- 
tematic search was instituted for those still miss- 
ing. Among these was Mr. Harry Bonnetheau, 
known and loved by all, whose friends and ac- 
quaintances inquired in every possible locality with 
unwearied hope till the mystery was so mourn- 
fully solved on Monday. But the scenes of meeting 
or the disappointments that followed confessions 
of ignorance on the part of friends expected to 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

know, made the streets pathetic during all the 
Saturday and the following night. 

Meantime contributions poured in by wire, on 
the trains and in every mail. The rich gave freely, 
both in money and in their services for relief and 
the reorganization of the prostrate community, 
and all the continent anxiously joined to help. 
At the meeting of the Board of Trade $15,000 
were subscribed and turned over to the commit- 
tees, and this was immediately used to buy food. 

All the vessels of the Clyde Steamship Com- 
pany, whether of the river or ocean fleets, fed all 
who applied while they lay at the docks ; the East 
Coast Railway ran special trains to St. Augustine, 
that those who could might get out of the city, 
even if compelled to return at night, and all the 
transportation companies joined in giving free 
passage to all who desired to go elsewhere. So 
passed the weary time. 

Except in the offices of the newspaper, in the 
military camps and with the firemen, Saturday 
night was a time of stupor — human nature could 
bear no more when the strain was relieved. Shel- 
ter of some kind had now been obtained by many ; 
the weather was still warm and pleasant for those 
compelled to remain in the open air. During the 
day the tangle of wires had been partially cleared 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

away, necessary provisions were abundant, and 
there was no attempt to raise the price on food. 
Eight butchers opened for business at temporary 
stalls, the banks that remained standing were open 
and the others had secured rooms and were pay- 
ing all demands, those who had been burned open- 
ing on Hogan, Laura and Forsyth. These evi- 
dences of faith in the preservation of law and or- 
der exercised a m_ost salutary influence on the 
temper of the community. 

The colored men held a meeting at the Flor- 
ida Avenue Baptist church and perfected an or- 
ganization to co-operate with the committees and 
the Board of Trade, the Elks issued their call for 
a meeting and the trade bodies of neighboring 
cities sent over committees to aid the Jacksonville 
Board. 

Sunday dawned clearly and beautifully on the 
city of ashes. From the ruins still curled upward 
wreaths of sm.oke ; occasionally a forlorn chimney 
would crash downward; the firemen valiantly 
watched, and the soldiers were on guard as the 
sun rose. Wearied and worn was every man ; the 
women were hollow-eyed, but felt safe ; the chil- 
dren still wandered around and stared at the 
changed surroundings. The Board of Health put 
on a permanent sanitary force and its officials 



ACBE& OF ASHES.* 

were everywhere on errands that will bear fruit in 
the better health of the future city. Five carloads 
of tents came in from Camp Perry and a carload 
of supplies from Atlanta; smaller contributions 
came on every line and almost every hour. The 
insurance men also quieted anxieties by promis- 
ing that payments should be made within thirty 
days, and as few impediments as consisted with 
safety should be interposed. Various stations for 
the relief of the hungry and needy were designat- 
ed and there food was alwa3^s ready for delivery, 
only the crowds miaking this a slow process. The 
ladies also joined in the work and appointed com- 
mittees who sought the sick and helpless in every 
corner of the ruins. 

The Finding^ of the Dead* 

And all during Sunday the search for Harry 
Bonnetheau continued ; at last hope sank with the 
absence of news, and it was conceded that his body 
must be hidden by the waters of the river. 

Again a night, during which the ashes cooled, 
the soldiers kept vvatch and ward, and the com- 
mittees of relief found no rest from tl^e night- 
m.are of suffering stories. And now the fiery grave 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

began to give up its dead, and soon the streets 
were filled with the excited inquirers. 

First the charred bones of Mrs. Wattie Thomp- 
son were found at the Home for the Aged, where 
she had taken refuge. Her son, after a search con- 
tinued for two days, had concluded his mother 
must have gone out of the city; he had written 
to old friends in the State and accepted a position, 
hoping to hear soon. When the bones suspected 
to be those of his mother were found, he fainted. 
Out from the crowd came an aged negro, once a 
slave of the family, who gathered the relics to- 
gether, covered them from the public, and then 
reHeved the boy, whom he called, with streaming 
eyes, ''My Young Marse." Leaning on the old 
man, who bore his mother's bones, the boy walked 
to a carriage and friends assumed care of all. Let 
us preserve, if we may, the name of that ex-slave 
Alexander, who was faithful at the last, and there- 
fore an honor to all humanity. . 

The body of an unknown negro was found at 
the boatyard. With his clothes burning he had 
plunged into the river for relief and been drowned. 
This tale the conditions of the garments and the 
position of the body plainly told. 

But public attention still fixed itself about the 
Market street wharf in fear of the worst horror. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

During Monday the river had been persistently 
dragged, but the floating timbers and the masses 
of aquatic plants made this necessarily an unsat- 
isfactory search, while such conditions made all 
efforts of the divers fruitless. Two young ne- 
groes, T. R. Michael and Robert Johnson, stand- 
ing at the McMurray & Baker wharf, noticed a 
black mass floating which they thought could not 
be a log. It was near the southeastern corner of 
the piling and was partially concealed by masses 
of hyacinths; the lift in response to the waves 
showed to their experienced eyes it was not a log. 
They clambered out on the piling and soon proved 
it was a body; on touching it the face turned up 
and they screamed in horror. Help came and the 
body was carefully towed to the shore. Magis- 
trate Ledwith was summoned, who presided over 
an examination as ex-oflicio coroner, surrounded 
by members of the Order of Elks who had learned 
of the find. 

Immediately these friends recognized the re- 
mains of poor Harry Bonnetheau. The apparel, 
the watch and jewelry and a bundle of papers in 
the breast pocket admitted of no doubt; physical 
peculiarities made assurance doubly sure. Here 
the long search ended. But the hands were 
burned and blackened and distorted as if he had 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

exposed them to the fire by dinging to some ob- 
ject above water — possibly to the boat seen from 
the Edith to capsize. The crabs had wrought their 
wicked will on the kind face so many loved, and 
the whole was a dream of fear. One of the first 
to arrive at the scene was the brother-in-law of 
the dead m.an, Mr. Edward Hudnall, of Valdosta, 
and he tenderly took charge when the legal pro- 
ceedings w^ere dismissed. Peace to his ashes. He 
left a son and a widow. 

The body of Willie Clark, a valued employe of 
Gus Muller, was seen by H. G. White, cashier of 
the Clyde Line, floating at the head of the A., V. 
& W. Railway wharf about 5 o'clock in the after- 
noon. During that terrible Friday evening young 
Clark had devoted himself to the task of helping 
others, and he was last seen carrying Mrs. Follett 
from her home in the Meyer & Muller building to 
a place of safety. Doubtless he tried to return 
to the river afterwards, and the flames closed 
around him in that final reflex action of the fire 
which ended in the death struggle on Laura street. 

So that the people of Jacksonville again supped 
full of horrors on Monday night as the fearful par- 
ticulars were known. Perhaps in closing the his- 
tory of Monday better cannot be done by way of 
showing the temper of the people than by quoting 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

the editorial lea'der which appeared in the Times- 
Union and Citizen the next morning: 

The Wotk Before Us. 

"Sentim^ent is most beautiful and at this time it 
is specially lovely in our sight when its influence 
is bringing us comfort and material help from 
every corner of the continent. Yet there are times 
when even sentiment must give way to imperious 
necessity — in the battle of Hfe the soldier must 
often go forth alone that he may face the foe with 
undivided energies and heart undismayed. He 
must put his loved ones out of his sight, that he 
may the better serve them. — he must leave them 
behind that he may the more surely and efficiently 
protect them. Woman is to every man a minister- 
ing angel if he be worthy — she is always his best 
inspiration and highest hope, but there are times 
when her absence serves him as well as her pres- 
sence does at other times. 

Such a time has come now to the homeless 
people of Jacksonville. The task before us is the 
creation of a city and the recovery of its business 
— a stern task and a difficult one. While doing 
this men must be sheltered and properly fed, and 
within the city there are not at present roofs to 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

cover the army of workers demanded by the situ- 
ation. The remedy is one which has often con- 
fronted man before, and ahvays with the same re- 
suh — the beautiful and agreeable must give way 
to the useful — the shelter must be monopolized 
by the workers alone. Let us appeal to our peo- 
ple in plain language that all may understand. 

It is our duty to send out of the city all those 
dependent upon others for shelter, except those 
needed for the work in hand. Dependent non- 
workers, women and children can be sheltered and 
jared for elsewhere — they must be. Night and 
day we must labor; comfort and care cannot be 
given others except at the cost of the workers, be- 
cause there is not room for all. 

So should the dependent and the helpless go 
elsewhere till Jacksonville is again prepared to 
care for and comfort them. Give up the city for 
the present to the workers — visitors who insist on 
coming to see the ruins should gaze their fill and 
return — the help is not here to care for them. Our 
hotels and our churches have been wiped out — 
our task is one grim enough to try the strength of 
the strongest. Let us have no distraction that 
excuse may be made for the neglect of duty — 
banish the amenities of life that we may the earlier 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

resume them, and more deeply appreciate them 
hereafter. 

It is hard to separate families, but there are 
times when it must be done. It is hard to send 
away those dependent on us, but we can care for 
them the more effectually by depriving ourselves 
of their society now. Work, work, work, must 
be the rule in Jacksonville for white and black — 
hard, stern, laborious work that owns an affinity 
to vulgar dirt, and is not beautiful except to look 
back upon, when we are enjoying the fruits of the 
harvest sowed and cultivated. Let us wait for that 
time, and hope, but now we must work. 

The problem of finding shelter for this army 
of labor is the difficulty of the present — a room 
means a worker now. Nor have we room for the 
idle and curious — such hotels and boarding houses 
as have been left to us are driven to their wits' 
end to provide for those necessarily dependent on 
them. Will not every member of the community 
help the solution if he may, as soon as he can?" 

Near midnight on Monday night a reporter 
visited Mayor Bowden at his house and found the 
wearied official sleeping on the floor, having given 
all his beds to his friends and to strangers who 
were homeless. He had been everywhere during 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

the eventful time, but was still full of pluck and 
energy, though his physical strength was nearly 
gone. He concurred fully in the views of the pa- 
per, was confident his people would preserve the 
excellent record they had made untarnished, and 
had every confidence the committees and the mu- 
nicipal government would be furnished with means 
from abroad and at home to feed all the hungry 
and clothe all the naked of his city. 

With Tuesday morning the work of preparing 
for the new time began in earnest. The various 
committees had shaken themselves into place and 
the people knew where to find them. The muni- 
cipal authorities were doing the work of double 
their number, the military was as orderly and pre- 
cise in discipline and practice as if in the face of an 
enemy; the wires had been swept from the prin- 
cipal thoroughfares; the street cars were running 
wherever their rails had not been ruined by the 
heat, and squads of laborers were clearing ofT the 
debris along the edges of the lots where the ashes 
had cooled. The owners of real estate were in- 
terviewing architects and contracts were being let 
for all the multifarious jobs whose completion 
meant a right of way for the coming mechanics. 
Tents had gone up, shanties were building and 
teams passing in every direction. To listen to the 



ACRES OF A8HSS. 

sound of the hoofs and the roar of the car service 
on Bay street was sweet as music to the citizens 
of the late thriving city. 

Another night passed and Wednesday came. 
It boots not to tell in detail how other bodies were 
found and the insurance men added yet other sums 
to the tale of losses — ^^these may be better given in 
figures. But the mayor spoke to the world of our 
condition when he now said to a reporter of the 
Atlanta Journal: 

"Beg the people to stay away. We have no 
room for our own — everything is gone. Jackson- 
ville can keep the wolf away from the door for 
three or four days longer with the provisions that 
are here and on the way. We have paid out $i8,- 
Goo of our own money, money given by our own 
sufferers. But this has been spent. God bless the 
great heart of human charity that has heard our 
appeal for aid. The United States is too big a 
country and her people too good to permit us 
here to starve to death. The situation is intense. 
There are many dangers and hardships at hand, 
but we have suffered enough. I believe the fire 
means the rebuilding of the city, and it will rise 
from her ashes to the greatest degree of success. 
Work has actually begun on many destroyed sites 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

and as fast as the debris cool the workmen will 
enter with their picks and tools." 

These w^ere sensible as well as brave words. 
The time had come when the city had room for 
workers only, when the hand must prepare the 
way for all softer things — when the ornaments 
and delights of life should be postponed for a more 
befitting time. The people were pioneers fight- 
ing the hard conditions which confronted their 
fathers, except that they stood on a bed of ashes 
with a world to help instead of in a forest isolated 
from everything more humane than the vengeful 
savage and the ravening beast to be met with the 
eye that did not blench and the hand that never 
trembled. The same man must meet the old needs 
under sHghtly different conditions. Floridians 
and Americans know how this is to be done. The 
future will tell the story in many chapters to fol- 
low. 

There is one other word to speak here. It had 
been wired that Chief Haney lost his mind; he 
was said to be dead; men had seen him die. It is 
true that when the experience and generalship of 
a chief availed him not,^ he went into the ranks to 
sustain his fainting men and fainted from over- 
exertion himself, but he was ahvays and every- 
where the hope of our people, the brains and the 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

inspiration of the force he had created. Modest 
ahvays he said nothing until Wednesday night 
when he gave this to a reporter of the Times- 
Union and Citizen: 

''The alarm was sent in at 12:35. I^ answer 
two hose wagons, a truck and hook and ladder 
responded. On my arrival, I sent in the general 
alarm, and before the last company had arrived 
the fire had gotten two blocks from the place it 
started. I immediately sent back for more hose, 
and issued orders that the fire be fought by going 
to the place farthest east, where fire was to be 
seen, as the fire was being furiously fanned from 
the west. Soon after that several blocks in various 
sections were on fire, and after that everybody 
knows the history. 

"On investigation, I found that the fire started 
in some fiber in the Cleaveland Fiber Factory, 
but what started the fire was not learned. It was 
also learned that those who were at the factory 
tried to put out the fire, and were unsuccessful and 
sent in the alarm too late. 

'T wish to thank all for their kindness to me 
and my men during the ordeal. One of the men, 
Aug. Hokason, a Swede, and who was with the 
fire department even before my connection with 
it, was overcome, and is now at St. Luke's Hos- 



3Nl^3HxVD^ ^ 



I— • 
H 

00 



ID 



^fv 




ACRES OF ASHES, 

pital, suffering greatly. It is believed that he in- 
haled flames." 

If such disasters must come may they always 
be met by Americans as this was in Jacksonville — 
shoulder to shoulder — with the right men in com- 
mand and obedience from below. We have en- 
dured and survived. Again the future is ours to 
mould according to our will, and as we deserve. 
The rest is but detail. 



Some Uncibente* 



The Lady and the Fire, 

On Friday in a peaceful location on one of the 
residence streets of Jacksonville the visitor would 
have found a model household. On the piazza a 
dozen choice plants luxuriated in the Florida sun- 
shine, roses climbed the walls and roses and lilies 
filled the small space between the gate and the 
door. Madame sat within a cool room, comfort- 
ably waiting the coming of the lord, who was not 
master; dinner was in course of preparation and 
occasionally the old woman who had been in the 
family for little less than a generation, cast out 
something to pacify a brood of chickens in the 
backyard, or spoke a word to the mistress of the 
house. Then the inevitable man arrived ; he noted 
that some buds had opened since breakfast; he 
gave fresh water to some ferns and he paused to 
catch a new note in the song of the mockingbird 
giving a concert from the oak at the gate. 

There sounded the fire alarm; the Lady and 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

the cook both ran out and joined the Man on the 
front piazza. A dense smoke rose to the west- 
ward, and the cook suddenly concluded her home 
was in danger, whereupon she was urged by the 
Lady to look after it, and obeyed on the run. 
Soon after the Lady thought she might help the 
cook and she ran off hatless regardless of the pro- 
tests of the masculine element that wanted its din- 
ner on time. 

The cook returned to get the hose ; got it, and 
went off again. 

The Lady returned to say the cook's house 
must surely go, for it was a big fire, and went 
again to consult a neighbor. 

The Man went to the upper piazza to take a 
view of the possible danger. 

The cook arrived, weeping, with a pile of bed- 
ding on a dray. 

The Lady returned to know if it was not time 
to pack up, and ran off to stop some children she 
suspected their father of leading into danger. 
There was a debate between the Lady and the 
father. 

These occurrences occupied fifteen minutes. 
The Man called to the Lady that she should be 
at home. She looked up to see a blaze a dozen 
blocks away and ran in frantically to say the city 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

was on fire. The man asked her to get her wits 
together and was told this was no time to be quiet 
and reasonable. She began to pack what came 
first to hand in a trunk Sampson would have pre- 
ferred as a test of strength to the gates of Gaza. 

The Man continued to gaze from the upper 
piazza till a shift of the wind rained light ashes on 
the plants in the yard; then he called the atten- 
tion of a neighbor to them ; the neighbor laughed. 
The Man went within and asked the Lady to put 
her preferred stock in two trunks which he indi- 
cated, saying, "We can save these, at any rate." 
He then began to put valuable papers and books 
in a steamer trunk. Having done this, he went 
out to find the Lady telling him to get the silver. 
He emptied a great clothes basket and was told 
not to make a mess on the floor. He carried the 
basket down, put in it the silver on the sideboard, 
and was startled by a shriek from the Lady. He 
rushed to the door to see the flames rising high 
in the next block. 

A friend ran in to know if he could be of ser- 
vice; he was asked to get wagons if possible. The 
Man went upstairs to find the Lady filling one 
trunk with old newspapers. He said nothing, but 
wondered which books of a small library he could 
afford to lose — each was a part of him. He be- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

gan to pack some with eyes too dim to read their 
titles. The friend returned with two wagons and 
three friends with him. After this there was noth- 
ing but confusion; the three friends and two ne- 
groes tore in and out at the bidding of the Lady 
who jerked heavy furniture about with the strength 
of madness, and kept talking about the history of 
each. 

There was a pause and the Man looked up to 
find only one of the friends with him. That friend 
pointed to the opposite house just falling in; all 
the houses opposite were aflame; this was 2 
o'clock. One friend had taken the Lady ofT. The 
remaining two went out with their arms loaded 
with things of little moment. 

Soon after the Man learned the Lady had been 
entrusted to the care of a negro and sent in a 
covered vehicle to Springfield. Anxiously he 
turned his steps in the same direction, for the ne- 
gro might show bad judgment or lose his head in 
an emergency. He had been away barely ten 
minutes, but he could not get within a block of 
the house just left. He turned in another direc- 
tion, for an ocean of flame shut him ofif the direct 
route to Springfield. He made a detour which 
took him near the St. John's Episcopal church, 
dived under a whirl of smoke and flame, then made 



ACRES OF ASHE 8. 

his way between blazing houses to the bridge. So 
near he was to being cut off — so swiftly did the 
fire eat its way through the heart of the city. 

He found all safe, but the joke of that dolorous 
day is the look of the Lady when she found upon 
the recovery of the plunder that she had packed 
one trunk with old newspapers and left the best 
of her clothing to the flames. 

As for the Man he is thankful that no lives 
were lost in his immediate circle and insists they 
were most fortunate. 



The Lady and the Piano^ 

Two gentlemen passed down a street while 
the fire roared behind them and sometimes made 
leaps that passed over their heads; one of these 
gentlemen had often been told by his friends he 
weighed a ton, but he never believed they spoke 
truth till he raced with the Jacksonville fire and 
must head it off to get home. At one of the 
houses stood a dray with a piano upon it; the 
driver stood at the horse's head and begged the 
lady to let him go, but she insisted on piling bed- 
ding upon the piano. The two friends knew her 
and paused. "Madam," said the fat man, "it will 



ACR£J8-VT ASHES. 

soon be too late to get away; send the dray off." 
''O, no," said the lady, ''I want to save my beds." 
The two ordered the driver to wait, and went into 
the house to help bring out those precious 'beds. 
The trip was made, a bed and bedding brought, 
but as a pillow was tossed on the load a spark 
fell and blazed. The pillow was thrown oft* and 
the stout gentleman said, protestingly, ''Now, 
madam, let him go." ''O, no," said the lady, 
''there is just one more." Obediently they re- 
turned, but found another spark had fallen, the 
bedding on the dray was flaming high, the driver 
had cut his traces and skedaddled. "There is no 
time for fooling here," said the lean man. He 
dropped his bundle, caught the lady past the nar- 
row gap and ran off, supporting her. Now the 
fat man could not slip through the eye of a needle. 
In that brief moment the fire in front of the door 
had grown hotter; his hair rose and his hat blew 
oft. His friend had reached a safe distance, turned 
and saw the picture of blank amazement — then he 
sav/ the fat man turn and dive back through the 
house whose upper storey was nov/ blazing fierce- 
ly. From this grew the story that a prominent 
citizen of Jacksonville had suffered cremation pre- 
maturely. 

But what became of our fat friend? He passed 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

through the house and found himself in a yard en- 
closed by a high planked wall. Had he entered a 
deathtrap ? There was horror in the thought. But 
a second look showed a door; he wrenched it from 
the hinges; the fire was above and around; he 
followed the fence gropingly and gasping ; present- 
ly there was a breath of air less hot, and he opened 
his eyes to find himself again in the street, but 
the spectators of his exit had disappeared. He 
ran faster than he ever did since he chased the 
nimble hare with a yellow dog, and reached home 
at last. He would much prefer paying for pianos 
to saving them, and when his friends laugh he asks 
v/here is the joke. But he has already begun to 
pay the forfeit — in lemonade. 



How Court Sat in Jacksonville* 

The Monday following the fire was the first 
day of the regular term of the Circuit court for 
Duval county. Now the court house was four 
brick walls filled with a miscellaneous assortment 
of debris and nothing else; the records were but 
ashes and all the officials in no condition to pun- 
ish any crime but extortion in prices for the nec- 
essaries of life. Yet court must be called, and 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

for this purpose a hall must be found, as the most 
learned and upright judge insisted. The sheriff 
found one and a local attorney of high standing 
and solemn face guided the judge thither. That 
dignitary was seated upon a table, the cleik ar- 
ranged a sheet of paper on another, and the sheriff 
stood with a beautiful cat in his arms to the mani- 
fest approval of the gentle and humane judge who 
had not observed such love of animals in that 
usually obdurate official hitherto. ''Open the 
court, Mr. Sherif¥," said his honor with due sol- 
emnity, whereupon it was called that the honora- 
ble court was ready for all and sundry who might 
deserve its ministrations. "Adjourn the court," 
said his honor, and it was forthwith adjourned to 
a better time. 

Then stepped forth an attorney and requested 
permission to make a statement. "Proceed," said 
his honor graciously, thinking a subscription was 
now to be taken for the fire sufiferers ; he sat back 
on his table and inserted a hand in a particular 
pocket that he might be ready. 'T have only to 
say," went on the attorney, "that your honor sits 
upon the poker table, the clerk has appropriated 
the baccarat board and the sheriff has the kitty 
by the tail." These words were meaningless to 
the learned judge, not being among those accept- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

ed by Blackstone, but he gazed around and a 
great light dawned upon his brain, while his noble 
countenance reddened and his eagle eye flashed. 
"Gentlemen," said his honor, ''no outsiders are 
present, and if this becomes pubhc somebody will 
sleep in jail." But it never did transpire, being 
a star chamber affair and done in executive ses- 
sion. 

But even after a great fire some light matters 
may remain. 



How All Suffered Together* 

A family that had saved something of its 
household effects took refuge with a friend in the 
suburbs and remained twenty-four hours. When 
the parting came both were near to tears, but each 
was trying to check the briny flood to make a 
brave show. The suburbanite had found her house 
filled to overflowing, so that her husband and his 
male friends slept in the woodhouse or on the 
ground. There were not cots and beds for the 
ladies and children, and only exact calculation 
found floor room for all, yet all were fed and all 
comforted. 

So when the parting came the refugee said. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

with a suspicious quiver about the mouth that 
tried to be a smile, "Annie, I fear you lost more 
than I did by the fire; the walls of my house are 
gone, but we saved something of what was within. 
You have the walls, but they are bare — we have 
eaten you out of house and home." ''Ah, yes," 
answered the hostess, "but you don't know what 
happiness the coming of all these visitors gave 
me. What am I that I should hope to have the 
pleasure, so dear to our Lord himself, of helping 
the needy and supporting the weak?" Now men 
would have gripped hands and said nothing, but 
these dear creatures sat down immediately on the 
back step and had a "good cry." 



Two Lives For Picttircs. 

I. 

Mrs. Wattie Thompson belonged to an hon- 
ored family that had been very wealthy. When 
it was known she was missing the news spread 
through the city and the search was prosecuted 
during all Saturday and the following night. In- 
quiries swept out into the country on Sunday, 
and then^ it was accepted as certain that she had 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

left the city on one of the passing trains that res- 
cued so many from the worst of those terrible first 
days after the fire. In this hope her young son 
wrote to all the friends of the family and went 
Monday to aid in the distribution of the supplies 
that were now pouring in from the outside. 

To the house of Mr. Thames in the city went 
an old slave woman of the Thompson family, 
named Roney. She had never left the old lady in 
all the years of her freedom, and was now worn 
out and nearly hysterical with her efforts to find 
''Old Miss." She had this tale to tell : 

"Me and old Miss got out the fire," said Roney, 
"and we wuz gwine 'long de street, when ole Miss 
she say she cawn't leave Mars Preston's picture. 
I say, 'Ole Miss, dat house burn you up,' but she 
say she gwine an' she look at me so I turn her 
loose. Den she walk right straight into de house 
and it burning fierce on de top where it catch. I 
wait till de fire reach down atter me like a great 
hand and de smoke hide de house, and I run an' 
hollow to ole Miss, 'Come erlong ! Ole Miss neb- 
ber come and dat's de las' I see ob my ole Miss." 

Then it was feared Mrs. Thompson had met 
death in the house and Monday morning saw an 
anxious company working at the ruins. They 
knew the picture of the little child^that was now a 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

boy doing the work of a man, had hung on the 
wall over her bed and they worked to uncover the 
spot where it stood. And they found the skeleton 
of that bed and on it a few charred bones — the 
mother had at least won her way to the presence 
of that baby smile — perhaps had climbed on the 
bed to reach it, and then sank down. Let us hope 
that she was stricken with merciful unconscious- 
ness, and that the mother's heart was cheered, 
even in that inferno, by the presence of the baby 
face. 

The son was called but to faint; Roney was 
too hysterical for the trust, and another old slave, 
Alexander, wrapped the sacred relics from the 
light. When the young man recovered Alexan- 
der called, ''Come, young Marse," and offered his 
shoulder for a support. With the remains of the 
mother in one arm and the son on the other, Alex- 
ander went to the carriage proffered by the by- 
standers. Roney followed, and the strange spec- 
tacle of devotion unknown and unappreciated save 
in the South, became no longer visible in the dis- 
tance veiled by misty eyes. 

11. 

Harry Bonnetheau's house stood at the cor- 
ner of Market and Bay. It was full of bric-a-brac 



ACRES OF A8HES. 

and valuable books — he was an enthusiastic col- 
lector of China. He remained in his house with- 
out making an effort to save anything, because at 
first he could not think the fire would reach him, 
and afterwards he could not find a wagon. Across 
the street and an open lot was the river and escape 
seemed so easy, to the boatyard or the wharf. 

A friend fleeing from the wrecks of the county 
buildings called to him, ''Come, Harry; you have 
no time to stay!" He took his hat calmly and 
said, 'It seems to be time to go," and walked out 
as if on an ordinary errand. He reached his 
friend, haltingly, for he was lamed by rheumatism, 
and then turned to say, "I cannot leave my moth- 
er's picture; it is the only one we have." "But 
you must not go," for the hotel at their side was 
now on fire. "I must go," said Bonnetheau, and 
went into the house. The picture was found care- 
fully placed against an oak tree at the boatyard. 
Some survivors of the Market wharf horror say 
Harry Bonnetheau was among them to the last. 
But his body came from the river, the hands 
burned and the face disfigured. The loving heart 
was still that left diamonds and beautiful shapes 
more precious to him, but would not leave his 
mother's picture to the flames. 

May Bonnetheau rest in peace; he showed a 



ACRES OF A8HE8. 

loving heart and pitiful soul to all that suffered 
while he lived. 



HOW HELP WAS DISTRIBUTED* 

As soon as it was apparent that the fire would 
be stopped at the foot of Laura street and a rem- 
nant of twelve blocks be saved to the city the 
effects of the Times-Union and Citizen were re- 
called to the Astor building and preparations be- 
gan to get out the paper in time to meet the mails. 
Into the editorial rooms then came Capt. C. E. 
Garner, president of the Board of Trade, and Hon. 
J. S. Stripling, United States attorney for the fed- 
eral district, and asked that a meeting of mem- 
bers of the Board, in which all citizens were asked 
to participate, be called to convene next morning 
at ID o'clock in the federal court room of the gov- 
ernment building to systematize measures for the 
relief of the needy and suffering. Such notice ap- 
peared next morning with editorial endorsement 
urging a full attendance. 

A meeting of municipal ofiQcials was also called 
which convened in the Astor block. 

At the Board meeting Captain Garner spoke 
feehngly of the calamity and urgently of the im- 



ACREB OF ASHES. 

mediate necessity of providing for the needy and 
appealing for help before the suffering became in- 
tolerable. Bishop Weed suggested that measures 
be taken to secure concert of action between the 
two meetings sitting simultaneously and joint ac- 
tion taken for the distribution of money and sup- 
plies. This view was at once adopted. 

A commission of six to correspond with the 
general government and the public as to the needs 
of the distressed people of our city was appointed, 
consisting of Governor W. S. Jennings, Senator 
J. P. Taliaferro and Messrs. W. W. Cummer and 
E- C. Long. 

The colored people were invited to appoint an 
auxiliary committee to act with others. The con- 
tribution of $5,000 from Mr. H. M. Flagler was 
reported; Mr. Harry Mason gave $250, with the 
use of his rooms in the old Everett Hotel, and the 
list swelled with the names of our most prominent 
citizens so that a total of $15,000 was promptly 
reached. 

Henceforth there was unity of action and a fair 
distribution of labor among all the bodies seeking 
a common object — system replaced that spon- 
taneous help which had before been the universal 
rule. 

Ladies were asked by Mayor Bowden to look 



ACFES OF ASHES, 

Up all the cases too feeble to reach the stations ap- 
pointed for the rehef of the several districts and 
a number of these immediately responded, so that 
the private vehicles which remained to our peo- 
ple were speedily tO' be seen going in all directions 
with baskets of food and articles of clothing. Much 
suffering was prevented in this way. 

The Knights of Pythias met and appointed the 
following committee to act for them in the rehef 
of distress: W. C. West, E. E. Willard, J. T. 
O'Quinn, Edward WiUiams, C. C. Root and J. C. 
Turner. 

The Elks met in the government building, sub- 
scribed $i,ooo to the rehef fund and decided to 
rebuild their home. 

The I. O. O. F. gave out for pubHcation the 
notice that all members of the fraternity or their 
famihes in need should apply to Postmaster Den- 
nis Eagan. 

Practically, however, all these bodies were 
merged into the Citizens' Relief Association, for 
no questions were asked where need was found. 
At a meeting of that body held on Monday at the 
Everett House wtih Mayor Bowden in the chair, 
the following ladies were appointed a committee 
to assist in the distribution of supplies : Mrs. G. 
M. Washington, Mrs. Guy R. Pride, Mrs. Lock- 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

ett, Mrs. D. A. Cook, Mrs. H. Green, Miss Eva 
Sanderson, Mrs. Dennis Eagan and Mrs. W. W. 
Summers. 

The president of the Relief Association is Capt. 
C. E. Garner, whose office is in the Everett Hotel 
building. The executive committee meets at lo 
o'clock every morning in the office of President 
Garner. 

Executive Committee — C. E. Garner, chair- 
man; J. R. Parrott, J. E. T. Bowden, J. C. L'En- 
gle, J. H. Durkee, J. E. Lee, W. A. Bours, Harry 
Mason, Bishop Edwin G. Weed, W. W. Cummer, 
Telfair Stockton, A. VV. Cockrell, Jr., Conrad 
Brickwedel, M. A. Dzialynski, Rev. W. J. Kenny. 

W. C. West is the secretary of the Executive 
Committee, and his office is in the same room. 

C. H. Smith is corresponding secretary of the 
Relief Association, and is also secretary of the 
Board of Trade, and his office is also in the same 
room. 

J. R. Parrott is chairman of the Commissary 
Department, and W. N. Stockton is superintend- 
ent for Mr. Parrott, and the office of the depart- 
ment is in the office of the Florida East Coast Rail- 
way city ticket office on West Bay street. 

Perhaps the duties assigned to different relief 
committees is best seen in the following report of 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

the meeting of the Executive Committee of the 
Relief Association held Monday afternoon and 
published by the Times-Union and Citizen in the 
Tuesday morning's issue : 

President C. E. Garner occupied the chair and 
W. C. West was appointed permanent assistant 
secretary. 

Before the meeting opened Mrs. W. W. Cum- 
mer and Mrs. Dennis Eagan appeared before the 
board with relation to establishing a relief station 
which could be put in the charge of the ladies' 
committee appointed yesterday. Mrs. Eagan stat- 
ed to the Executive Committee that there were 
many ladies who were in destitute circumstances 
who could not go to the general relief station and 
who would starve and suffer before making known 
their wants. 

It was decided by the committee to establish 
a commissary for white ladies only, in charge of 
the ladies' committee. The commissary will be 
in a tent in the lot next to the Duval Hotel ten- 
dered by Mr. Cullens. The tent to be erected this 
morning. 

Telfair Stockton was appointed a committee of 
one to employ stenographers, bookkeepers and 
other employes to keep records. 

Mayor Bowden stated on behalf of the city that 



ACRES OF ABEES. 

he had assurances that water would be put into 
the camps. 

Mr. Bours then explamed that the committee 
on lodging had decided to establish camps of about 
100 tents in different sections, and asked that com- 
missary accommodations be made. 

J. R. Parrott was elected chairman of the com- 
mittee to establish as man}^ commissary stations 
as might be necessary, to distribute the supplies, 
and he appointed W. Stockton to be in charge of 
the warehouses and supplies and supervise the 
sending out of rations to the relief stations each 
day. 

Rev. Father Kenny was appointed chairman 
in charge of the bureau of information. 

The headquarters of Father Kenney will be in 
a tent behind the Duval Hotel. 

Telfair Stockton was appointed chairman in 
charge of the employment bureau, to work in con- 
junction with the Board of Public Works, and he 
also will have his ofifice at the headquarters which 
commencing today will be in thejot behind the 
Duval Hotel. 

Chairman Bours of the committee on lodging 
reported that he had ordered a thousand spades 
and shovels for the use of the men who were to 
assist in cleaning up the city. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

A. W. Cockrell was appointed chairman of the 
sanitary committee, and J. E. T. Bowden was ap- 
pointed chairman of the committee on transpor- 
tation. 

A resolution adopted was as follows: 

"Idle men cannot stay in the city and be fed. 
The motto of the relief bureau is no work, no food. 
The militia is requested to make the vicious and 
idle, without regard to color, leave the city." 

A report was handed in by the colored relief 
association which has organized with the follow- 
ing officers: J. H. Blodgett, president; J. Dug- 
las Wetmore, first vice-president ; E. J. Gregg, sec- 
ond vice-president; C. C. Manigault, secretary. 
Rev. James Johnson, treasurer. '^ An executive 
committee comprising Messrs. Wetmore, Gregg, 
Dickens, Ferguson and Alexander was appointed. 

This report was referred to the chairman of 
employment committee to assist him in employing 
labor, and also to see that only deserving colored 
people received aid. 

A bureau of information, with Mr. I. L. Harris 
in charge, was organized under the Very Rev. 
Father Kenny, to which all suspicious or fraudu- 
lent claims might be referred and decided. Here 
the claimant had his present address registered 
and his former residence; investigation then 



ACRES OF A8HEI:i. 

proved whether he had suffered from the fire and 
had made true report. 

The stations at which rehef was given out were 
distributed to secure the greatest possible conven- 
ience to those in need, located as follows : 

Station No. i — Riverside avenue. 

Station No. 2 — Corner Myrtle avenue and 
Adams street. 

Station No. 3 — The water works. 

Station No. 4 — Florida avenue. 

Station No. 5 — South Jacksonville. 

Station No. 6 — Hemming Park. 

Station No. 7 — Corner of Cedar and Adams 
streets. 

Station No. 8 — Corner Julia and Eagle. 

Station No. 9 — 415 West Church street. 

The following account of the relief given on 
Monday appeared in the Times-Union and Citizen 
of Tuesday: 

At the relief stations yesterday the committees 
were kept busy all day long and almost 3,000 peo- 
ple were supplied at the white station and almost 
3,500 at the colored station. There is not a sin- 
gle case of suffering for w^ant of food known to the 
committees, and the work has been systematized 
rapidly and in good and efficient shape. 

There was receied at the Everett block station 



ACRES OF ASSES. 

yesterday nine barrels of bread, two boxes of bread 
and two boxes of sausages from St. Augustine. 
There also came b}^ express from a source un- 
known to the committee eight sacks of potatoes, 
two barrels of cabbage, one sack of cabbage and 
one box of cabbage and one box of tomatoes. 

Notice was received that ten cars of supplies 
would reach the city from Charleston during the 
day, and Committeeman Will Stockton has estab- 
lished headquarters in the warehouse at the depot 
for the storage of the supplies. Another carload 
of supplies was also received from Atlanta last 
night, which was cared for at the same place. 

Everything is running smoothly at the com- 
missaries and no trouble has been reported. 

It were well to leave the work of relief here. 
The whole continent had contributed the mate- 
rials — rich and poor, neighbors and friends and 
strangers. Such chapters in the history of the 
American people will remain to do them the high- 
est honor. The people of Jacksonville had com- 
ported themselves helpfully and in a Christian 
spirit in the hour of trial, some with the highest 
heroism, but all as they had opportunity to serve 
•each other. Then came the organization and 
henceforth it was a business system that worked 
with the monotony of a machine, but with its un- 



ACRB^ or ASHES. 

failing regularity also, for, governing all its mo- 
tions, was the brain power drilled to handle great 
volumes of business and entirely devoted to the 
work in hand. 

There was to be no more suffering and Jack- 
sonville soon walked strongly forward to its ap- 
pointed future. 



DIRECTORY OF RELIEF WORK- 

While the flames that devoured the city were 
still flashing, before midnight indeed, the work of 
relief began. For several days help was afforded 
at a venture and there were cases of imposition 
and fraud. But every citizen whose services were 
felt to be especially valuable freely dropped his own 
business to serve the public and the best skill and 
energies of our people were speedily placed where 
they could do the most. The result was that or- 
ganization was soon effected, the frauds were spot- 
ted through the information bureau and even the 
commissary department worked with a smooth- 
ness that wasted nothing and left none deserving 
to suffer. The names of those who did such work 
should remain with us and this slight sketch of the 
organization, taken from the directory of the 



ACRES OF A8HE8. 

Times-Union and Citzen, will possibly afford a les- 
son to another city in such an extremity: 

Jacksonville Relief Association Officers — C. E. 
Garner, president ; J. R. Parrott, vice-president ; 
C. H. Smith, secretary; A. M. Ives, treasurer. 

Executive Committee — C. E. Garner, chair- 
man; W. C. West, secretary; J. R. Parrott, J. E. 
T. Bowden, J. C. L'Engle, J. H. Durkee, J. E. Lee, 
W. A. Bours, Harry Mason, Bishop Edwin G. 
Weed, W. W. Cummer, Telfair Stockton, A. W. 
Cockrell, Jr., Conrad Brickwedel, M. A. Dzialyn- 
ski. Rev. W. J. Kenny. 

Finance Committee — Charles Benedict, J. P. 
Talaiferro, B. F. Dillon, J. N. C. Stockton, B. H. 
Barnett. Headquarters over McNearney store, 
foot of Laura street. 

Commissary Departm.ent — J. R. Parrott, chair- 
man; W. N. Stockton, superintendent; T. T. 
Stockton, auditor. Headquarters Florida East 
Coast Railway city ticket office. 

Commissaries are located as follows : 

No. I, Riverside — Located on Riverside ave- 
nue on the vacant lot two blocks from the viaduct. 
Two tents, in charge of G. P. Hall. 

No. 2, La Villa — Located on the corner of 
Adams street and Myrtle avenue on a vacant lot. 
Two tents, in charge of L. F. Drysdale. 



AVJttElS OF A8HES. 

No. 3, Springfield — Located at the water 
works. Two tents, in charge of J. W. White. 

No. 4, East Jacksonville — Located on the va- 
cant lot opposite the Episcopal church. Two tents, 
in charge of W. B. Watson. 

No. 5, South Jacksonville — Located at the 
South Side Grocery, in charge of Fred Schulen- 
berg. 

No. 6, Ladies' ReHef — Located in tents in 
Hemming Park, in charge of Mrs. W. W. Cum- 
mer. 

No. 7, Jacksonville proper — Located at corner 
Cedar and Adams streets, in charge of Tom Tur- 
ner. 

No. 8, Woman's Colored Relief — Located at 
915 West Church street, in charge of Mrs. L. B. 
Robinson. 

No. 9 — Located at the corner of Eagle and 
Union streets. 

Committee on Labor — Telfair Stockton, chair- 
man. Headquarters behind Duval Hotel, in tent. 

Committee on Informatoin — Rev. F. J. Kenny, 
chairman. Headquarters behind Duval Hotel, in 
tent. 

Committee on Tents — W. A. Bours, chairman. 
Headquarters in tent behind Duval Hotel. 

Committee on Transportation — Mayor Bow- 



AORES OF ASHES. 

den, chairman. Headquarters Southern Railway 
ticket office. 

Committee on Sanitation — A. W. Cockrell, 
chairman. Headquarters over McNeamey's 
wholesale store, foot of Laura street. 

^ Woman's Relief Corps — Chairman, Mrs. Den- 
nis Eagan; secretary, Mrs. G. M. Washington; 
Mrs. Guy R. Pride, Mrs. Lockett, Mrs. D. A. 
Cook, Mrs. H. Green, Miss Eva Sanderson and 
Mrs. W. W. Sumner. Headquarters in tents in 
Hemming Park. 

Woman's Relief Corps, Information Bureau — 
Mrs. Bogart, chairman clothing department; Miss 
Hedrick, chairman commissary department; Mrs. 
Pepperday, chairman. Hospital Department — 
Mrs. Dr. Reichard. Headquarters of all in Hem- 
ming Park. 

Masonic Relief Committee^ — Dr. C. W. John- 
son, chairman; W. P. Webster, secretary and 
treasurer. Headquarters Masonic Temple, Bridge 
street. 

Woodmen of the World Relief Committee — 
H. H. Simmons, chairman. Headquarters, H. H. 
Simmons' office, Cleaveland's furniture store. 

Knights of Pythias Relief Committee — The re- 
lief committee of the Order of Knights of Pythias 
have their headquarters on the third floor of Cas- 



ACRES OF A8HE8. 

tic Hall building. The committee meets daily at 
9 a. m. and the rooms are open from 9 a. m. until 
5 P- m. 



MILITARY RULE IN JACKSONVILLE- 

During the eventful Friday night following the 
fire the three Jacksonville companies of State 
troops, the Rifles, the Light Infantry and Wilson's 
Battery, were under arms and stationed through- 
out the city to guard life and property. Early the 
next morning the Gem City Guards arrived from 
Palatka under Captain Davis and remained on duty 
till Monday, when they went home. 

Other companies of the State troops arrived as 
soon as the lines of road could bring them, while 
others were ordered out as the need was more fully 
appreciated. 

On Saturday morning the Governor declared 
martial law by proclamation and the military sit- 
uation remained unchanged for many days. The 
ofificial roster was then as follows : 

C. P. Lovell, Colonel Commanding. 

F. A. Ross, Captain and Adjutant. 

F. J. Howatt, Captain and Quartermaster. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

Lee M^cDonell, Lieutenant and Acting Ord- 
nance Officer. 

J. S. Maxwell, Major and Provost Marshal. 

A. G. Hartridge, Captain and Assistant Pro- 
vost Marshal, acting as Trial Judge for Military 
offenses. 

C. B. Parkhill, Captain and Assistant Provost 
Marshal, acting as Trial Judge for Civil offenses. 

C. A. Dunham, Major and Surgeon. 

Dr. Philbrick, Lieutenant and Assistant Sur- 
geon. 

Company A, First Regiment — Capt. A. G. 
Hartridge, ist. Lieut. B. B. MacDonell, 2nd Lieut. 
Charles Tucker ; 60 men present. 

Company C, First Regiment — Capt. A. B. 
Small, 1st Lieut. C. B. Smith, 2nd Lieut. J. T. 
Bush ; 34 men present. 

Company D, First Regiment — Capt. Geo. Lew- 
is, 1st. Lieut. W. H. Markham, 2nd Lieut. G. T. 
Gibbs; 32 men present. 

Company E, First Regiment — Capt. W. H. 
Lyle, 1st Lieut. A. W. Lewis, 2nd Lieut. E, M. 
Bynum; 34 men present. 

Company F, First Regiment — Capt. William 
LeFils, 1st Lieut. W. A. Jones, 2nd Lieut. Geo. L. 
Dancy; 40 men present. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 

Company G, First Regiment — Capt. J. C. Fos- 
ter, 1st Lieut. H. M. Snow, 2nd Leiut. G. W. 
Snow ; 29 men present. 

Company H, First Regiment — Capt. W. H. 
Cox, 1st Lieut. J. Kinarth, 2nd Leiut. H. Helven- 
ston ; 40 men present. 

Company K, First Regiment — Capt. C. B. 
Parkhill, ist Lieut. Martin Griffin, 2nd Lieut. R. 
L. Nickelson; 58 men present. 

Company C, Second Regiment — Capt. B. C. 
Aberneth}^, ist Leiut. H. C. Robertson, 2nd Lieut. 
R. H. Hudson; 37 men present. 

Company E, Second Regiment — Capt. J. R. 
Davis, 1st Lieut. John D. Alderman, 2nd Lieut. 
Tate Powell ; 30 men present. 

Company H, Second Regiment — Capt. Geo. 
M. Lynch, ist Lieut. Phillip Miller, 2nd Lieut. C. 
R. Layton; 41 men present. 

Wilson's Eatery A— Capt. C. B. Duffy; Maj. J. 
Gumbinger, commanding; 42 men present. 

In addition to these there was a detachment of 
marines from the revenue cutters Forward and 
Hamilton, under command of Lieut. Boskcrck. 



ACRES OF ASHES. 



ESTIMATE OF PROPERTY LOSSES. 

The following estimates do not cover the en- 
tire losses, as it is impossible to fix the values on 
thousands of little things, and losses to individuals 
who were in the city, at boarding houses or ho- 
tels, and not otherwise identified with the city's 
population. The entire losses, it is conservatively 
estimated, will approximate $15,000,000. 



FORSYTH STREET. 

Cleaveland Block $ 30,000 

Clark Block 5,000 

Livingston Block 10,000 

Hubbard Block 40,000 

Livingston Block 25,000 

Reed Block 15,000 

Hubbard Block 50,000 

Spratt Block 10,000 

Jacksonville Fire Dep't. 2,000 

Thebaut Block 10,000 

City Jail Block 15,000 

McMurray Block 15,000 

Morrison Block 3,000 

Bisbee Block 16,000 

Law Exchange Block .. 25,000 

Ely Block 18,000 

Clark Block 7,000 

Hudnell Block 25,000 

Wilmarth Block 8,000 

Seminole Block 30,000 

Metropolis Block 30,000 

Smith Block 20,000 



Total 

MAIN 
Byrne Block. 



STREET. 



.$ 405,000 



Porter Block 

Board of Trade Block 



35,000 
10,000 
20,000 



Fire Department Block. 

Emery Block 

Placide Hotel Block... 

Simms Block 

Henderson Block .. .. 

Emery Block 

Doctor Daniel's Block 

Aird Block 

McMurray Block 

Baya Block 

Lancaster Block 

Gas Works Block 

Brickv^edel Block 

Jones Block 

Ivers Block 

Grunthal Block , 

Jones' Hall Block 

Spratt Block 



Total. 



RESIDENCES. 



Senator J. P. Taliaferro 

W, S. Ware 

J. R. Parrott 

T. V. Porter 

A. W. Cockrell 

R. B. Archibald 

J. N. Stripling 

Dr. H. Bacon 



15,000 

30,000 

25.000 

15,000 

15,000 

20,000 

8,000 

6,500 

10,000 

15,000 

■^ m 

45,b00 
7,500 

r,5oo 

3,000 

7,500 

10,000 

4,000 



309,000 



30,000 

30,000 

17,000 

15,000 

6,500 

5,000 

4,000 

4,600 



ACRES OF ASHES. 



Dr. R. H. Dean 4,500 

L. Haynes 4,500 

^ McLaughlin 6,000 

D. G. Ambler 6,000 

C. S. Stansdl 17,000 

A. Meigs 20,000 

H. W. Clark Estate.. .. 6,000 

E. A. Champlain 7,000 

W. B. Watson 4,000 

T. W. Roby 4,000 

W. B. Drew 6,000 

Mrs. C. L. Robinson ... 5,000 

W. A. MacDuff 8,000 

W. D, Vinzant 5,000 

W. G. Toomer 5,000 

J. D. Witchen 7,000 

J. P. Beckwith 6,500 

C. W. Wilson 5,000 

H. Bisbee 12,000 

B. M. Baer 8,000 

E. B. Dalton 6,500 

Mrs. Coffin 6,000 

L. Furchgott 20,000 

A. S. Fairhead 7,000 

S. B. Darnell 5,000 

L. N. Wilkie 8,000 

W. H. Itjen 8,000 

G. R. Foster 5,000 

H. G. Aird 3,500 

Mrs. Tibbetts 7,000 

M. S. Pollak 12,000 

Mike Sabel 6,500 

Joe Sabel 6,500 

G. L. McConihe 5,000 

Mrs. McQuaid Estate.... 7,500 

R. G. Ross 12,000 

Dr. E, Sabel 5,000 

Dr. C. Drew 5,000 

D .U. Fletcher 5,000 

Doctor Spratt 7,000 

Mrs. Rivas 6,000 

Mrs. Christopher 8,000 

C. C. Robertson 12,000 



Doctor Liell 5,000 

C. M. Fuller 7,000 

Hy. Robinson 10,000 

J. H. Durkee 10,000 

W. B. Barnett 10,000 

Doctor Stout 7,000 

Mr. Harkisheimer 5,000 

E. Vanderpool 7,000 

J. S. Driggs 6,000 

J. C. L'Engle 8,000 

J. C. Cooper 7,000 

C. M. Cooper 20,000 

Dr. J. H. Livingston .. 5,000 

P. Walter S.OOC 

S. Ritzwoller 10,000 

Gov. F. P. Fleming.. .. 5,000 

R. D. Knight 5,000 

Mrs. L. I. Fleming.. .. 5,000 

Mrs. C. M, S. Hallows.. 12,000 

W .M. Davidson 8,000 

J. Einig 8,000 

S. B. Hubbard 12,000 

Mrs. Hartridge 5,000 

Judge Doggett 5,000 

F. Bettelini 5,000 

Mrs. J. Bettelini 5,000 

J. B. Bours 5,000 

W. A. Bours 8,000 

C. C. Bettes 5,000 

G. O. Holmes 5,000 

C. B. Benedict 5,000 

O. P. Knapp 5,000 

Max Myerson 7,500 

E. F. Smith 7,500 

Mrs. J. F. Young .. .. 5,000 

Mrs. H. A. L'Engle.... 5,000 

William Byrne 6,000 

T. Murphy 6,000 

George E. Chase 5,000 

C. D. Towers 5,000 

J. R. Tysen 6,000 

B. H. Barnett 8,000 

Mrs. C. P. Cooper 6,0OQ 



ACRES OF ASHES. 



Mrs. E. I. Daniel 5,000 

Mrs. John Clark. 7,500 

J. Cohen 8,000 

A. Zacharias 7,000 

Mrs. D. P. Smith 5,000 

Mrs. Burton 5,000 

Mrs. Ochus 10,000 

William Baya 5,000 

Fifteen hundred other 

residences 2,000,000 

Personal Effects 2,300,000 

STOCKS. 

Commercial Bank $ 7,000 

I. E. Baird 15,000 

Green Engraving Co 2,000 

S. F. Hall 10,000 

H .E. Clark 15,000 

Benedict, Pollak «& Co . . 60,000 

Emery & Co 40,000 

E. F. Clark 45,000 

Charles Marvin Co 15,000 

Shad Bros 15,000 

Stafford & Ward 20,000 

Florida Hardware Co... S0,000 

State Bank of Florida.. 12,000 

John C L'Engle 15,000 

W. B. DeWitt 2,000 

W. A. Bours 15,000 

Carder & Campbell.. .. 5,000 

Hooker & Lightbody .. 3,000 
National Bank State o-f 

Florida 10,000 

Petting & Reichard .... 15,000 

Lewis H. Reiley 10,000 

Christie-Groover Drug 

Co 30,000 

John G. Christopher.. .. 25,000 

George E. Chase 35,000 

Gus Muller 25,000 

Iseman-Clausen Co.. .. 20,000 

John Zahm 7,000 

John McAllister 7,000 



Merrill-Stevens Eng. Co. 50,000 

T. Murphy 25,000 

Hotel Bristol 7,dOC 

Thomas Clarke 15,000 

H. P. Fridenberg .. .. 10,000 

Mrs. Coffin 10,000 

H. & W. B. Drew Co.. 75,000 

Cohen Bros 60,000 

Montgomery 3,000 

J. D. Home 15,003 

W. T. Simmons 12,000 

Atlantic Pacific Tea Co. 7,000 

W. G. Clarke Co 10,000 

Furchgott 150,000 

J. C. L'Engle 10,000 

Marvin Shoe Store 25,000 

Kress & Co 15,000 

R. D. Knight Co 20,000 

Greenleaf & Crosby Co.. 50,000 

Hughes Drug Co 6,000 

Fries Drug Store 6,000 

First National Bank.... 10,000 

F. Williams, Sons & Co. 20,000 

C. C. Bettes 10,000 

S. B. Hubbard Co 150,000 

Metropolis 15,000 

A. B. Campbell Co.. .. 25.000 

Knabe Piano Co 7,000 

A. F. Land 3,000 

McCastle 3,000 

East Florida Printing Co 25,000 

William Clarke 7.,500 

E. E. Cleaveland 30,000 

C. A. Clark 10,000 

J. R. Porter 15,000 

Johnson Law Co 7,000 

Dignan & O'Brien 7,000 

J. D. Grether 7,000 

William Byrne 20,000 

C. Tyler 3,0'jO 

F. A. Chapman 5,000 

George W. Clark 10,000 

Clark & Burns 7,000 



ACRES OF ASHES. 



R. Grunthal 

W. F. Seeba 

Placide Hotel 

F. A. Pellerin 

Vail Carriage Works.... 

S. Genovar 

F. D. Genovar 

Law Exchange 

Miekleman & Co 

Smith Laundry 

Richardson Laundry. . . . 

Rhodes Furniture Co . . 

About 200 other smaller 
stores and business 
houses 



5,000 

7,000 
15,000 
15,000 
20,000 

3,000 
10,000 
30,000 

7,000 
15,000 
15,000 
10,000 



550,000 



Total $ 2,180,000 

SOUTH SIDE BAY STREET. 
Business Blocks. 

Hazeltine Block and 

Docks $ 50,000 

Holmes Block and 

Docks 45,000 

Baya & McQuaid Block 

and Docks 35,000 

McConihe Block and 

Docks 50,000 

Able Block and Docks.. 30,000 

Benedict Block and 

Docks 30.000 

Holmes Block and 

Docks 35,000 

Boatwick Block and 

Docks 35,000 

Fitzgerald Block 7,000 

Rivas Block 7,000 

Basnett Block and Docks 75,000 

Reed Block and Docks.. 20,000 

Baird Block and Docks. 15,000 

Gaskins Block and 

Docks 15,000 



Hartridge Block and 

Docks 15,000 

Bettelini Block and 

Docks 12,000 

Herkimer Block and 

Docks 30,000 

Durkee Block and Dacks 40,000 
Mohawk Block and 

Docks 75,000 

Jacksonville Yacht Club 4,000 

Gardner boatyard 8,000 

Myer and Muller Block 

and Wharf 40,000 

Walsh Block 7,000 

Bristol Hotel Block and 

Wharf 30,000 

Christopher Block and 

Wharf 20,000 

A., V. & W. Ry. Block 

and Wharf 40,000 

A., V. & W. Depot 

Block and Wharf .. .. 50,000 
Tacksonville Marine Rail- 
way Block and Wharf. . 10,000 
T. Murphy's Block and 

Wharf 15,000 

Merrill-Stevens Block 

and Wharf 35,000 

Alsop Block and Wharf 5,000 

Business houses scattered 150,000 

Total $ 1,030,000 

NORTH SIDE BAY STREET. 

Bisbee Block $ 15,000 

Witschen Block 15,000 

Gardner Block 100,000 

Holmes Block 20,000 

Baldwin Block 50,000 

L'Engle Block 20,000 

Rivas Block 15,000 

Bettelini Block 15,000 

Reed Block 40,000 



ACRES OF ASHES. 



First National Bank 

Block 20,000 

Holmes Block - 30,000 

Togni Block 15,000 

Morrison Block 10,000 

Holmes Block 5,000 

Broward Block 8,000 

Baya Block 12,000 

Gonzales Block 12,000 

Morrison Block 25,000 

United States Hotel 

Block 60,000 

Total 495,000 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

Afro. Presb. Church.... $ 7,000 

St. Philp's Church.. .. 4,000 
African M. E. Church 
Coopman Institute (col 

ored) 20,000 

Negro High School.. .. 7,000 

Grammar White School 10,000 
Duval White High 

School 10,000 

County Jail 35,000 

Froebel Academy 3,000 

Massey Business College 5,000 

Arlington Hotel 10,000 

Glenwood Hotel 3,000 

Operahouse 40,000 

Elk Club 20,000 

Jacksonville Telephone 

Company 35,000 

Windsor Hotel 75,000 

Southern Bell Tel. Co.. 35,000 

St. James Hotel 125,000 

Oxford Hotel 20,000 

Nooney Hotel 20,000 



Baptist Church 15,000 

Congregational Church . 10,000 

Synagogue Church 15,000 

Christian Church 3,000 

German Luther, Church 3,000 

C. C. Church 5,000 

McTyeir© Mem. Church 45,000 

Bethel Baptist Church.. 20,000 

African Meth. Church.. 20,000 
Catholic Church and 

buildings.... 75,000 

Convent buildings.. 35,000 

Trinity Meth. Church 25,000 

St. John's Church 75,000 

Southern Preb. Church 5,000 

City Building 115,000 

Clerk's office 10,000 

Courthouse 80,000 

Armory 40,000 

Total $ 1,088,000 

THE TOTAL LOSS. 

Public Buildings $ 1,088,000 

Stores north side Bay 

street 495,000 

Stores south side Bay 

street 880,000 

Stores Forsyth street.... 405,000 

Stores Main street 309,000 

Residences prominent . . 785,000 
Residences, 1,500 small.. 2,000,000 
Residences personal ef- 
fects 2,300,000 

Stores, stocks of goods 1,630,000 

Stores, 200 smaller.. .. 550,000 

Street Railways 30,000 

Pavements 100,000 

Aggregate $10,565,000 



The Metropolis 

FLORIDA'S GREAT 
Evening Newspaper 

SWORN CIRCULATION OF 
6000 DAILY 

Although the plant of the Metropolis was destroyed 
by the big Jacksonville fire of May 3, this newspaper 
has ordered a magnificent new outfit and will soon be 
equipped better than ever. 

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: 
$5.00 per year $2.50 per six months. 

$1.25 per 3 months. 45 cts. per month. 

Advertising rates upon application. 

W. R. CARTER, Editor. 

R. A. RUSSELL, Business Manager. 



The Geo. W. Clark Co. 



Before and After Fire. 

This cut represents the home 
office of The Geo W. Clark Co. 
previous to the great tire on May 
the 3rd, 190 The Geo W. Clark 
Co are large manufacturers of ar- 
tistic monuments, and other ceme- 
tery work in marble and granite 
They have an office at Hard- 
wick, Vt , from which point they 
make shipments of their goods to 
all parts of the United States. 

They also deal extensively in 
Avood mantels, grates and tiling. 

They had a tine establishment in 
this city, and were doing a large 
business, shipping monumental 
work from here to California, Ne- 
vada, Arizona and other western 

states They have agents in every 

state in the union. 

Although the V were heavv losers by the tire, they were the first firm to put up a new 
building and re-establish their business at the old stand. They are now advertising more 
extensively than ever for agents to sell their goods They are prepared to make prompt 
shipments of mantels, grates and tiling from factories at Kuoxville, Tenn., Louisville, Ky , 
and Zanesville, O. 

Since the fire they have gone extensively into the building material line, and expect to 
take an important part in the re-building of Jacksonville 

'J-'his cut represents their temporary quarters, although they have made arrangements 
for a permanent brick block which will shortly be erected on the lot now occupied by their 
marble works. ' 





Florida's Great Daily 



ft Tis-iii il Ci 




ESTABLISHED 1863. 



ISSUED: 



Daily, Sunday and 
5emi=WeekIy 



AT 



Jacksonville 



BY; 



The Florida Publishing Co. 



GEO. W. WILSON, President and^ditor. 
T. T. STOCKTON, Business Mgr., Sec'y and Treas. 



THE INDUSTRIAL BANK 

Is a great savings' medium. Save the climes aud the dollars will take care of them- 
selves' 

Jno, n. Stevens, Pres. W. A. MacDuff, Treas. 

GRAY, SMART & DAVIS, 

ARCHITECTS. 
Phone No. 828. NO. 15 SOUTH MAIN ST. 

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. 

WILSON d EDWARDS 

ARCHITECTS 
Jacksonvilkt Fla* Columbia, S« C* 

JACKSONVILLE BUILDERS' SUPPLY CO., 

224 W. Bay St., Jacksonville, Fla. 

Building- and Prepared Brick, Roofing Slate, Tiles, 

Mantels, Lime, Cement, Plaster, etc. 

ncMILLAN BROS., 

Florida Copper Works, rSrsr-L^.. 



COPPERSMITHS 

AND 

GENERAL METAL WORKERS. 

The Fire Did Not Reach Us. 

Savannah, Ga* Jacksonville, Fla. Mobile, Ala. 



C R RIVERS & CO^ 

Brokers, Decorators and Builders' Supplies. 

Brick, Lime, Cement. — Hay, Grain and Provisions. 

P. O. Box 97. 112 W. Bay St. 

Grenville Temyle Snelling. CMPI f WH J^ PflTTPD 132 W. Forsyth St., 
Howard Nott Potter. Ol'^L,L*L,ll'^Vl a ru 1 1 Crl\, ggQ^ 9^ JaoXsonvlUe. 

Grenville Temple Snelling, A T? r^TTTT"Frr"TQ 
Jacksonville representative, -rirv^^ni 1 £L\^ ± o, 

III Fifth Avenue, New York. 
132 W). Forsyth St. Room 9, JACKSONVILLE, FLA. 

THE C. C. ROBERTSON 

REAL ESTATE AGENCY 

Are back at the old stand N. W. Cor. Hogan and Ad- 
ams St. They made the first deal after the fire of $80,- 
000 and are ready to save you. 

BURTON E. COE COMPANY 

GRAVEL ROOFING 



CONCRETE ASPHALT PAVING 



Estimates furnished on Contracts in all parts of State. 



Old Thone No. 574. 
Jacksonville Office and W'orks, Bay St. and Terminal 

Station. 

Tampa Office and Works, LaFayette St. and the Bridge 
C. W. PERKINS, Manager. 



THE DIEBOLD SAKE 

Was the winner in the Jacksonville Fire. 

JOHN S. FRANZ, Special Agent, 

JACKSONVILLE, KL.A, 

A. B. Qilkes, Alfred Rodd, 

ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS 
Uedemann Building JACKSONVILLE, FLA. 

Independent Line Steamers, 

DOUBLE DAILY SERVICE. 
St. Johns River, Manatee River, and Tampa Bav, Florida. 
U. S. MAIL. 
H. R. FULLER, C. E. GARNER. 

Gen. Frt. & Pass Agent, Prest. & Gen Mgr, 

Tampa, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. 

KNOWLES & HUBBLE, ' 

ARCHITECTS, 20 E. 42d St., New York City. Will 
maintain a branch office, 11 1 Forsyth St., for the trans- 
action of local business. 

J. C. HALSBMA, ^ 

BUILDER 
Plans and specifications furnished. Ofifice N. E. Cor. 
Hogan and Adams St. Old Phone No. 839. 

HOLMES & LAWTON, 

ARCHITECTS 



Rutledge Holmes. 

Chableston Libbabt Bldg., 
Charleston. S. C. 



St. J. Alison Lawton. 

C. B. RoGEEs Co. Bldg., 
Jacksonville, Fla. 




Jacksonville Tla 



INSURANCE 
Office Nos. 5 & 
7 Drew B'ldg. 
Telephone 639. 
Also Agents for 
the sale of ... . 
ATLANTIC 
BEACH 
LOTS. 



LBON BBA VBR, Architect, 

1 20 W. Bay or Nat. Bank of Jacksonville 
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. 
Residence, Knoxville, Tenn. 

Wilson & Edwards, 

ARCHITECTS 
COLUMBIA, S. C. JACKSONVILLE, FLA. 

J. W. Qolucke & Company, Architects. 

M ain office jSTo. 412 Temple Court, Atlanta, Georgia. Branch offices Birming- 
ham, Alabama; Anniston, Alabama, and Jacksonville, Florida, 

We have had years of experience in planning all kinds of buildings, and can 
make you plans and specifications for any kind of a building, so that the cost will 
not exceed the amount you wish to expend. Address all communications to our 
Atlanta office. Yours truly, J. W. QOLUCKE & CO., Architects. 

THE QEO. W. CLARK CO., 

HARDWICK, VT. 
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. 



Iron Fencing and Wood Mantels. 



AGENTS WANTED in all parts of the United States. 
Write for terms and Catalogues. 



I CARDER ■ CAMPBELL CO. 

I SHACK NO. i; FOOT OF MAIN ST. 

I Jacksonville, Fla. 

I Asphalt Gravel Roofing 

I SOUTHERN SELLING AGENTS FOR 

Je AVarren's Anchor Brand, Asphalt Gravel Roofing. 

% National Paint Works, Structural and Technical Paints. 

^ Cabot's shingle Stains and Deadening Quilts 

High Point Granite Works, Spartansburg, S. C. 
Ijythite Cold Water Paint. 

COAL TAR PRODUCTS, SHEATHING AND BUILDING PAPERS. 



9i Building Stone, Crushed Stone, Curb Belgium Block, Cross 
Walk, Sills, Lintels and Steps. Asphalt Paving. 



I 

t 
t 

t 






I 



R. J RIL-ES 

Railroad 
Watches 

A Specialty 

Wutch inspector for Plant Sys- 
tem arid Jacksonville A: South 
Western 

Diamonds 

Silver and Silver Plated ware. 

Opticial Q^Jt 

j Graduated Opticiiiu from one 
? of the leadinjj; schools of N. Y. 

225 W. Bay St. 

Jacksonville, Fla. 




/T 



Ube 



^ 



Duval 



Hotel 



The 

Popular 

Commercial 

Hotel 

of the 

City 



Jacheonville, 
]flon&a 

CENTRALLY LOCATED. OPEN 
THE YEAR ROUND. OPPOSITE 
R O. MODERN EQUIPMENT.^ 



IRatee lllncbangeb 

wP^*5U DAY 



B. W. SPERRY, Proprietor. 



